Family of missing Rhode Island mom seeks justice on tragic milestone
Loved ones of a missing Rhode Island mom have demanded justice and shared a sweet family photo ahead of the first anniversary of her mysterious disappearance — as local police insist the case has not gone cold.
Charlotte Lester, 44, was last seen in the Apponaug marina section of Warwick on the night of May 16, 2022.
“#JusticeForCharlotte We need answers. Almost one year later,” loved ones captioned an old snap of Lester smiling with one of her young children on the “Help us find Charlotte Lester” Facebook page last Tuesday.
The mom of three was reported missing three days after she was last seen when her poodle, Chloe, was found abandoned near Belmont Park, the Providence Journal reported.
A week later, Lester’s red Toyota Tacoma truck was discovered in the parking lot at Kent Hospital.
The investigation at the time zeroed in on a house in the area that Lester allegedly frequented, though no concrete evidence has emerged in the last year.
“We’re still working on [the case],” Warwick police Detective Capt. John McAniff told the Journal this week.
Family spokesperson Kathy Wilson told the outlet that Lester’s family believes she is no longer alive and was the victim of a crime, but they remain dedicated to finding the truth.
“It’s definitely not a cold case,” she said.
Wilson described the missing mom as “magnetic.”
“She was magnetic. Everyone loved her,” she recalled, adding that Lester lived by the motto “20 good deeds a day.”
Originally from Massachusetts, Lester was known in the community for giving money to the homeless and volunteering at clothing drives.
“She would share anything she had with anybody. She was happy. She liked her life,” Wilson said.
Wilson also acknowledged rumors about Lester’s free-spirited coastal life, which she said was tied to a previous romantic relationship with an older, married man.
Although Lester and the unnamed man were no longer a couple, Wilson said, he covered her expenses, including her home, car and personal budget.
The family, however, does not suspect the man of being involved in Lester’s disappearance.
“We’re not focused on that,” Wilson insisted.
“It was a life she chose.”
Lester’s loved ones will mark the first anniversary of her disappearance at a vigil at Arnold’s Neck Waterfront Park on Tuesday evening, WPRI reported.
It is possible that Lester was wearing a wig at the time she vanished because she has alopecia, WLNE reported. She is 5 feet 7 and of slim build with brown eyes.
