Two Rhode Island men have been found guilty of the murder of Leila Duarte DaLuz, whose body was discovered in Carbuncle Pond in Coventry on December 21, 2022. Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced the verdicts delivered by two separate juries at Kent County Superior Court.
Michael Lambert, aged 47, and Gary Gromkiewicz, aged 37, were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder after a 10-day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Luis M. Matos. Both men are set to be sentenced on March 28, 2025.
Attorney General Neronha stated, "This double conviction is a real victory for justice in Rhode Island and an appropriate end to a truly heartbreaking case." He emphasized that while the crime drew significant attention due to its nature, it is important to remember Leila's life beyond her tragic death. He expressed hope that the convictions provide closure for her family and praised both juries and the Rhode Island State Police for their efforts.
The prosecution established that on December 21, 2022, Lambert and Gromkiewicz assaulted Ms. Duarte DaLuz during the early morning hours before leaving her to drown in Carbuncle Pond. Evidence presented included cell phone data and video footage showing their movements from Brockton, Massachusetts—where they picked up Ms. Duarte DaLuz—to various locations across Rhode Island.
Ms. Duarte DaLuz's body was found beneath ice in Carbuncle Pond by a fisherman. The medical examiner reported blunt force trauma to her head and water in her lungs, indicating she was alive upon entering the pond.
Rhode Island State Police Colonel Darnell S. Weaver commended the collaboration between his department and the Attorney General’s Office: "I am grateful that with this verdict, we will hold the defendants accountable for their horrific actions."
The investigation and prosecution were led by Criminal Division Chief Stephen Dambruch and Assistant Attorney General John Corrigan from the Attorney General's Office along with Detective Corporal Robert Hopkins and Detective James Hudson from the Rhode Island State Police.