By David Lohr

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March 1, 2007

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Crime Library ) —  One week ago today, a University of Rhode Island professor's home burned to the ground.  A family car was later found abandoned near a nearby river, and the professor's wife has not been seen or heard from since.  Searchers have been unable to find her, and investigators are now calling the fire suspicious.

On February 22, at about 9 p.m., Joseph Matoney Jr. arrived home from his college teaching job to find his house ablaze.  Matoney quickly called the fire department from his cell phone, and then ran inside the burning home to make sure no one was trapped.

"I was afraid my son and wife were in there," he told The Providence Journal, "so I tried to go in through the breezeway, but the smoke almost overcame me... It's so scary — it just gets to you so quick."

Matoney managed to make it out of the house safely.  Firefighters were on the scene moments later, and were able to determine that the home was unoccupied.  Matoney's relief soon turned to concern.  His wife, Adrianne Lynn Matoney, 58, was supposed to be have been home, but her car was gone, and she was not answering her cell phone.  With each passing hour, the mystery of her disappearance deepened.

At about 3:30 a.m., a police officer found Adrianne's green Toyota Camry parked on Sakonnet River Bridge, some 20 miles away from the home.  The car was locked, and there was no one inside.  Investigators conducted a thorough search of the vehicle, but they were unable to determine if the car had been stolen or if Adrianne had driven it to the bridge.  There was no sign of foul play, and there was no suicide note in the car.

As a precaution, the Portsmouth and Tiverton fire departments, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Portsmouth police all conducted a search of the river.  Two boats searched the river and a helicopter hovered overhead, as searchers walked along the narrow banks, looking for any sign of Adrianne.  Regardless of their efforts, they were unable to locate her, and the search was called off at 10 a.m.

In an interview with WCBV, South Kingstown Police Capt. Jeffrey Allen said his department was treating Adrianne as a missing person.  "We're conducting a crime scene investigation, just like we would do with any serious fire," he said.

Matoney's lawyer, former Rhode Island Attorney General James O'Neil, issued a brief statement the day following the fire.  "Joe and the family are cooperating with the South Kingtown Police and praying for the safe return of their wife and mother," O'Neil said.

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Contact  David Lohr at           crimewriter74@hughes.net

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