Former Rhode Island police officer sentenced in crash that killed Linda Sherman

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter Neronha announced today in a release that a Rhode Island man has been sentenced in Washington County Superior Court to serve at the Adult Correctional Institutions for driving under the influence and causing a crash that killed 53-year-old Linda Sherman in 2024.

On Wednesday, Superior Court Justice Sarah Taft-Carter sentenced 60-year-old Daniel Famiglietti to 15 years, with seven years to serve at the ACI and eight years suspended with probation, a $5,000 fine, alcohol counseling and treatment, and a five-year loss of license upon release from the ACI. Prior to sentencing, the defendant pled nolo contendere to one count of driving under the influence resulting in death.

“It is always a tragedy when someone is killed by a drunk driver, but it’s easy to forget the impact that reverberates out from a single death,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Linda Sherman lost her life. Linda had friends and family who loved her, whose lives are forever altered by her death. While nothing can change what happened, it is my hope that this sentence will bring Linda’s family a measure of justice. I am grateful to the North Kingstown Police Department for their outstanding work and partnership in this case and so many others.”

Had the case proceeded to a trial, the State was prepared to prove that Famiglietti drove under the influence of alcohol and caused the crash that killed Sherman.

Just before 7:00 p.m. on June 20, 2024, officers from the North Kingstown Police Department responded to a report of a traffic accident at the intersection of Boston Neck Road and Earle Drive in North Kingstown. Prior to the accident, both Famiglietti and Sherman were travelling north on Boston Neck Road when the defendant struck Linda, who was riding a bicycle, with his Jeep. According to the subsequent crash investigation, Famiglietti hit Linda from behind while she was traveling inside the breakdown lane. Rescue personnel transported Linda to the hospital before she succumbed to her injuries.

On the scene, Famiglietti, who is a former police officer in Rhode Island, admitted that he had consumed several alcoholic beverages before driving, and consented to field sobriety tests, all of which he failed.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s blood after he refused a chemical blood test. The Rhode Island Department of Health determined that the defendant had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.097% approximately three hours after the crash.

“This case is a tragic example of the devastating impact that driving under the influence can cause on our community,” said North Kingstown Police Chief John J. Urban, Jr. “With this sentence, I am glad to see the defendant will be held responsible for his actions. I want to thank our officers and investigators, as well as our partners at the Attorney General’s Office, for their investigation and prosecution of this case.”

Assistant Attorney Mark Trovato of the Attorney General’s Office and Detective Sergeant Greg Miga of the North Kingstown Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

In July, a GoFundMe fundraiser was organized to honor Sherman with a memorial tree, bench, and plaque.