PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Detectives have arrested a 53-year-old man accused of strangling a woman behind a Providence middle school nearly three decades ago.

Kevin Williams has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 41-year-old Kathleen O’Dowd Boleman.

Williams is accused of strangling Boleman behind Roger Williams Middle School back in March 1999.

Police said Williams was identified as a suspect during the initial investigation, but detectives didn’t have sufficient evidence to charge him at the time.

Providence Police Detective Angelo Avant, who’s been working on the case for the past few years, recently uncovered new information after examining evidence and interviewing witnesses.

Police said as a result of that new information, the Providence County Grand Jury handed up an indictment last week charging Williams with murder. He was taken into custody in Providence earlier this week and is being held without bail.

“The passage of time does little to lessen the pain felt by those who have lost a loved one at the hands of another, particularly when such crimes go unsolved for many years,” R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha said. “Today marks a major step towards obtaining justice for the victim and her family.”

Boleman’s sister told 12 News she was one of eight siblings and had four children.

“It’s nice to see that someone will be held accountable for her death,” she said. “We want people to know that she wasn’t a statistic. She was a vibrant woman with a family who loves her deeply and has missed her terribly. She had a larger-than-life personality, and this man destroyed that.”

Williams has also been charged with violating a no-contact order that as issued in a pending domestic violence case. His next court case is scheduled for April 24.

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