Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Pawtucket man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 murder of his girlfriend, Kristine Ohler. The sentencing took place in Providence Superior Court.
On May 7, 2025, Superior Court Justice Joseph A. Montalbano handed down the life sentence to Victor Colebut, aged 46. In addition to the life sentence, Colebut was ordered to enroll in a batterer’s intervention program and surrender all firearms. This followed a jury trial on February 24, 2025, where he was found guilty of domestic second-degree murder, domestic assault (third offense), and violating a no-contact order (third offense).
“Perpetrators of domestic abuse seek to exert control over their victims," stated Attorney General Neronha. "All too often, this violent behavior escalates and ends with victims losing their lives." He expressed hope that the sentence provides some peace to Kristine's family.
The State presented evidence during the trial proving that Colebut strangled Kristine Ohler in his home. On February 17, 2020, emergency services responded to a call at Colebut's residence where they found Ohler unresponsive with facial injuries. She was transported to Miriam Hospital but was pronounced dead.
Colebut admitted to arguing with Ohler while intoxicated on the night of her death. Neighbors also reported hearing arguments from his residence earlier that evening. His contact with Ohler violated a No Contact Order issued after an earlier incident of violence.
Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves thanked law enforcement and the Attorney General’s Office for their work on the case: “Domestic violence gravely impacts our community."
Assistant Attorney General Shannon Signore and Special Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Burke led the prosecution alongside Detectives Hans L. Cute (Ret.) and David Silva (Ret.) from the Pawtucket Police Department.