Providence murder suspect charged in stabbing, attempted robbery
by: Sarah Doiron
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Arizona woman accused of murdering another woman and dumping her body in the Woonasquatucket River late last year has been charged in connection with a separate stabbing and attempted robbery, according to R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha.
Dusti Turner, 35, has been charged with assault with intent to rob, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Turner is accused of stabbing a man in the leg while attempting to rob him at the intersection of Dorrance and Weybosset streets in Providence last December.
Surveillance footage from a nearby bus terminal and gas station shows Turner grabbing the man from behind by his coat before repeatedly punching and kicking him, according to Neronha.
Neronha said the man eventually broke free and started running toward the bus terminal. Turner chased the man briefly before giving up and taking off.
The victim told investigators that, while he didn’t know her name, he knew Turner was referred to as “Red.” He explained that he and Turner had lived together on Dexter Street before he moved out.
Turner was charged with murder in February after 30-year-old Katherine Gascoigne’s body was discovered floating in the water off of Promenade and Bath streets. When detectives identified her as a suspect, Turner was already behind bars for reportedly stealing a U-Haul truck and leading officers on a chase through Johnston into Providence.
Investigators believe Turner and her girlfriend, 34-year-old Aja Lovett, beat and strangled Gascoigne last December after confronting her about a stolen laptop.
Turner and Lovett are both currently being held without bail in connection with the murder. Neronha said Turner’s next court date for the stabbing and attempted robbery is slated for June 3.