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Providence Man Admits to Role in Kerry Mello’s Murder

[Tina Mello/Facebook] Three Warwick men and one from Providence have been arrested and charged in the murder of Terry Mello, 36, of Cranston.
[Tina Mello/Facebook] Three Warwick men and one from Providence have been arrested and charged in the murder of Terry Mello, 36, of Cranston.
Warwick, RI — A Providence man, one of four indicted April 21 in the murder and dismemberment of Kerry Melo of Cranston at a Warwick home, has pled guilty to conspiring to the crime.

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Graig Bustillo, 39, of Providence, pleaded guilty on Friday, May 20, 2016 before Superior Court Justice Kristin E. Judge Rodgers to one count of conspiracy to commit murder for his role in the August 2015 murder and dismemberment of Kerry Mello.  The plea was sealed by the Court until late Monday afternoon.

Bustillo, Jamie Barriera, 35, of Louisiana Avenue, Warwick; Francisco Concepcion, 36, of Louisiana Avenue, Warwick and Albert Barriera, 61, the father of Jamie Barreira, of Shannon Drive, Warwick, were arrested in their home early April 21.

The arrests followed a months-long investigation conducted by RI State Police, Massachusetts State Police, US Coast Guard, Cranston and Warwick police.

Mello, 36, last seen Aug. 10, 2015, was reported missing to the Cranston Police shortly after.

On Aug. 19, 2015, a torso was located in Massachusetts waters near Westport. Two days later, two severed legs were discovered on a beach in Little Compton near the Massachusetts border.  The remains were later identified as Mello’s.

Police allege that the men conspired to lure Mello to Albert Barriera’s home on Shannon Drive in Warwick, where they killed and dismembered him, then disposed of his body at sea.

Bustillo remains held without bail pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled.

State Police Detective Adam Kennett led the investigation and Assistant Attorney General James Baum and Special Assistant Attorney General Timothy Healy prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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