Grand Jury Indicts Perkins for 2022 Charlotte Lester Murder

WARWICK, RI —  The Statewide Grand Jury has indicted Mark Perkins, 65, of 29 Staples Ave., with first degree murder in the disappearance of Charlotte Lester, last seen in 2022 and known to frequent the man’s  home.

Warwick Police charged Perkins with murder in November 2024 after learning  new information in theire two-and-a-half-year investigation into the disappearance of Lester, 44, in 2022. Today, the grand jury indicted him on one count.  Perkins is scheduled to be arraigned on May 9, 2025, in Kent County Superior Court.

The alleged act occurred in Warwick on May 16, 2022.

Charlotte Lester Murder Investigation Continues

Perkins’ home was the focus of the missing person investigation into Lester’s fate. Warwick Police reported securing a warrant to search Perkins’ home in late May 2022, where Lester was known to frequent. On Nov. 20, at about 09:14 a.m.,  Warwick officers executed an arrest warrant based on the new information, and took Perkins into custody without incident, charging him in the Charlotte Lester murder.

At the time, Police noted the investigation is active, and stated they would not release additional details.

Lester was reported missing Thursday, May 19, 2022, after she failed to contact friends for several days. Lester’s dog was located abandoned in the Elmwood Ave. area of the City on Wednesday night May, 18, 2022.

According to the Gofundme page funding searcher’s efforts to find her, Lester, a mother, a sister, a daughter, and friend, committed herself to 20 acts a kindness a day. She was a lover of animals who volunteered at a soup kitchen and was the first female football coach in South Kingston. She was also very involved with her church.

Friends and family also posted a Charlotte Lester search page on Facebook to share up to date information on the search.

Police asked anyone who has information that may contribute to the investigation, regardless of its significance, to contact the Warwick Police Department, at 401-468-4200 and request to speak with WPD Det. Parmenter.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Warwick Police by downloading the Warwick PD app on your Android/Apple device and selecting “Submit a Tip”. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by using a third-party system called Tips411. To use Tips411, simply text your information to 847411.