Providence

Man found dead in basement of Providence home; suspect in custody

Officers found the man's body in the basement of a home on Westminster Street with what they described as obvious signs of trauma

WJAR-TV

Investigators outside a home on Westminster Street in Providence, Rhode Island.

A man's body was found in the basement of a Providence, Rhode Island home on Wednesday, and police say they've taken a man into custody on a murder charge.

Providence police said they were called to the home on Westminster Street for a welfare check, according to WJAR-TV. When they arrived, officers found the man's body in the basement with obvious signs of trauma and began a homicide investigation.

The victim has since been identified as 57-year-old Michael Ames. His brother, Brendan Ames, tells WJAR that his brother was a jokester, who sadly struggled with addiction.

"I kept praying one day he would get sober, and I got my wish, but that ain't the way I wanted it to happen… He's blood and I don't care, I looked for him every time I went home," Brendan Ames said to WJAR.

Police tell WJAR that the suspect in Ames' death is 41-year-old Michael Shaw. He and Ames were known to each other.

In court Thursday, Shaw was ordered held without bail. Prosecutors said Shaw was a bail violator and was on probation at the time of the alleged crime.

Court documents show Shaw is facing a charge of first-degree murder. Attorney information wasn't immediately available.

Police have not released a possible motive in this case.

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