Rhode Island man sentenced for strangling his girlfriend to death, violating no contact order

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Pawtucket man has been sentenced in Providence Superior Court to life in prison for the domestic murder of his girlfriend, 30-year-old Kristine Ohler, in 2020.

On Wednesday, Superior Court Justice Joseph A. Montalbano sentenced 46-year-old Victor Colebut to life in prison, and ordered the defendant enroll in a batterer’s intervention program and relinquish all firearms. On February 24, 2025, following the conclusion of a 5-day jury trial before Judge Montalbano, a jury found Colebut guilty of one count of domestic second-degree murder, one count of domestic assault, third offense, and one count of domestic criminal violation of a no contact order, third offense.

“Perpetrators of domestic abuse seek to exert control over their victims, and will go to extreme measures to keep it,” said Attorney General Neronha. “All too often, this violent behavior escalates and ends with victims losing their lives, as was the case here. While nothing can bring Kristine back to her family, I hope this life sentence gives them some sense of peace knowing that justice was served. I am grateful to the jury, and to the Pawtucket Police Department for their efforts in this difficult case.”

During the trial, the State proved that Colebut murdered Kristine Ohler, strangling her to death in his home. 

In the early morning of February 17, 2020, Pawtucket Police and Fire responded to a 911 call for an unknown medical emergency. Upon arrival, police found Kristine Ohler unresponsive in Colebut’s residence, with visible injuries to her face. Officers began CPR before rescue personnel transported Kristine to Miriam Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased.

Officers detained Colebut at the scene. He later admitted that he argued with Kristine while intoxicated. Neighbors also reported hearing arguing coming from Colebut’s residence earlier in the night.

Colebut’s contact with Kristine Ohler violated a 2020 No Contact Order between the two that was issued following an incident of physical violence.

“I want to thank the men and women of the Pawtucket Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office for their work in bringing this defendant to justice,” said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves. “Domestic violence gravely impacts our community, and I am grateful to see this perpetrator be held accountable for his actions.”

Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore and Special Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Burke of the Attorney General’s Office and Detectives Hans L. Cute (Ret.) and David Silva (Ret.) of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.