CENTRAL FALLS, RI — The small, densely populated city of Central Falls is navigating a “heartbreaking 24 hours” following a shocking act of violence at a local place of business that claimed the life of a beloved 50-year-old woman. Authorities have officially identified the victim as Putali Kunwar, who was discovered deceased Thursday at Sue’s Salon, located at 360 Hunt Street. In a swift and technologically driven investigation that spanned state lines, the Central Falls Police Department (CFPD) announced Friday that they have apprehended the primary suspect, 66-year-old Lawrence Beauvais, at a motel in Massachusetts.

The senselessness of the crime—occurring within the sanctuary of a neighborhood salon—has left the “Sue’s Salon community” and the city at large in a state of profound shock. As detectives work to finalize the charges of First-Degree Murder and First-Degree Robbery, the focus remains on the “relentless pursuit of justice” for Putali Kunwar and the family she leaves behind.

---

A Violent Midday: The Discovery at Sue’s Salon

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday, March 26, 2026, in the heart of the Hunt Street business corridor. Central Falls police and emergency responders were dispatched to Sue’s Salon following reports of a “violent incident.” Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of 50-year-old Putali Kunwar.

The scene was immediately secured as a high-priority homicide site. Detectives from the CFPD launched an exhaustive, “round-the-clock” investigation, canvassing the surrounding neighborhood for witnesses and meticulously analyzing physical evidence. The loss of Putali—a woman known to many in the local community—transformed the salon from a place of beauty and connection into a “grim site of a catastrophic crime.”

The Investigation: High-Tech Tracking and Multi-Agency Coordination

The breakthrough in the case came through a combination of “meticulous investigative efforts” and the use of cutting-edge law enforcement technology. Detectives were able to secure surveillance footage from nearby businesses that identified both a suspect and a getaway vehicle used in the commission of the robbery and murder.

Investigators then utilized the city’s recently deployed Flock camera technology, which allows for real-time automated license plate recognition. The system successfully flagged a license plate associated with the suspect vehicle, providing a “digital breadcrumb trail” that led straight to Lawrence Beauvais.

Working in seamless coordination with the Cumberland Police Department, officers tracked the vehicle’s movements. The investigation eventually led them across the state line into North Attleboro, Massachusetts. With the vital assistance of the North Attleboro Police Department, Lawrence Beauvais was located at a local motel and taken into custody without incident on Friday morning.

The Suspect: Lawrence Beauvais Facing Life in Prison

Lawrence Beauvais, 66, currently remains in Massachusetts awaiting extradition to Rhode Island. Once returned to the state, he will face severe legal consequences for the “senseless violence” visited upon Sue’s Salon.

The formal charges against Beauvais include:

• First-Degree Murder

• First-Degree Robbery

The inclusion of the robbery charge suggests that the motive for the attack was a “brazen theft” that escalated into a lethal encounter. Colonel Anthony Roberson praised the “determination and professionalism” of his officers, noting that the arrest is a direct result of their refusal to rest until a suspect was behind bars.

The Victim: Remembering Putali Kunwar

At 50 years old, Putali Kunwar was a woman who represented the “vibrant spirit” of the Central Falls community. To her family and the regular patrons of Sue’s Salon, she was a “fixture of kindness” whose life was cut short in a “callous act of greed.”

“This has been a heartbreaking 24 hours,” Mayor Maria Rivera stated in a somber address to the city. “A woman lost her life, and we are holding her family, loved ones, and the entire Sue’s Salon community in our hearts. Violence has no place here, and we will continue doing everything we can to keep our community safe.”

The loss of Putali is being felt as a “theft of a pillar” within the salon community. Neighbors have begun to leave flowers and candles near the entrance of the 360 Hunt Street location—a “silent vigil” for a woman whose “voice was silenced far too soon.”

A Community United Against Violence

The rapid arrest of Lawrence Beauvais has provided a “small measure of relief” to a city reeling from the trauma of a daylight homicide. Local leaders have pointed to the “extraordinary coordination” between Central Falls, Cumberland, and North Attleboro authorities as a testament to the community’s commitment to safety.

“This arrest is the result of relentless effort,” Colonel Roberson added. “Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family. We are committed to pursuing justice on their behalf.”

The Central Falls Police Department is continuing to gather information to build the strongest possible case for the prosecution. They are encouraging anyone with “additional information” related to the events at Sue’s Salon on Thursday to contact the detective bureau at 401-727-7411.

In Loving Memory of Putali Kunwar

As the legal proceedings against Lawrence Beauvais begin, the people of Central Falls are focused on “honoring the memory” of Putali Kunwar. Her life was a story of “work, community, and connection,” and her death is a loss that will “resonate through Hunt Street” for years to come.

Though the “hallways of the salon are quiet” today, the legacy of the woman who brightened them remains a “radiant light” in the hearts of those who loved her. May Putali Kunwar rest in peace, and may her family find the strength to carry on in the “justice that is being pursued” in her name.