Two cold cases that stumped Rhode Island prosecutors for decades were finally solved this week, but officials could not catch the killers in time.

Debra Stone and Cynthia McKenna both died of asphyxiation 23 years apart in the Ocean State, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Wednesday.

“Today, we close the cases surrounding the deaths of Cynthia and Debra, and by doing so, we hope their families can finally feel a sense of closure,” Neronha said. “Victims have been, and will always be, our priority, and we will continue to deliver results for Rhode Islanders – through the Cold Case Unit, and Office-wide.”

Neronha launched his office’s cold case unit in 2023 to solve the multiple cold cases that have plagued the state with the mission to “deliver long-awaited answers f

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