Life Sentence for Murderer of Pawtucket Salon Owner

A Pawtucket man, Michael Fernandes, has been sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend, Jocelyn DoCouto, a devoted mother and salon owner whose life was stolen in a rage-fueled act just months after their breakup. Prosecutors called it a senseless tragedy, while her business partner described the haunting emptiness of walking into the salon where she last breathed. Fernandes’ attorney offered remorse, acknowledging the lifelong scars his actions left — especially on her two children. The Attorney General warned that domestic abusers often escalate to violence to maintain control, and Pawtucket police praised the team that brought justice to this heartbreaking case. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/c9dbbe2834cbdaab