Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Goring Matthews (DOB: 7/1/77), formerly of 102C Lake Erie Street, Middletown, RI, pleaded guilty yesterday before Superior Court Justice Netti C. Vogel to second degree murder in the September 9, 2009 death of Richard Kilburn, last known to be from Providence, RI. Justice Vogel sentenced Matthews to 60 years, with 40 to serve and the remainder suspended with probation. Matthews has been held without bail at the ACI since his arrest on September 9, 2009.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on the night of September 9, 2009, Goring Matthews bludgeoned Richard Kilburn to death across the street from the Crossroads Rhode Island shelter on Broad Street. The beating allegedly stemmed from a dispute the men had earlier.
The investigation was led by Providence Police Detective Tim McGann. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Roger Demers on behalf of the Office of the Attorney General.