Stabbing Victim Identified, Remembered As 'Good Person'

Portsmouth police have identified the woman who was fatally stabbed shortly after boarding a Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) bus early Wednesday morning. 

The victim has been identified as Terry Chiodo, 46, of Portsmouth. 

Portsmouth police say Chiodo boarded the RIPTA bus in front of the Portsmouth Multi Purpose Senior Center on Bristol Ferry Road. 

At 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, Portsmouth police were called to the overlook on West Main Road near Lehigh Terrace in regards to a reported stabbing. 

The overlook is less than a mile from where Chiodo boarded the bus. 

"When police arrived on scene, they learned that a 46-year-old female resident of Portsmouth had been stabbed by a male passenger shortly after she boarded the bus," according to a press release.

According to NBC 10, the victim was stabbed in the chest. 

"Immediately after the stabbing, two other male passengers brought the suspect to the ground and detained him until police arrived." 

The woman was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. 

Stabbing is not a 'random act of violence' 

Police and RIPTA officials are stressing the incident appears to be a domestic-related incident, and not a "random act of violence." 

Christopher R. James, 46, with a last known address of 207 Rhodes St., Providence, was later arraigned on a first-degree domestic murder charge.

James, who has a long criminal record dating back three decades, is believed to be the victim's estranged husband, police said. James was already on board the bus when Chiodo stepped on.

Victim remembered as 'hard worker' 

Chiodo, a Portsmouth resident, is being remembered by neighbors has a "hard worker" and a "good person," according to NBC 10.  

According to those who knew her, Chiodo was a mother and grandmother. Her Facebook profile shows a cover photo of two young children. 

Chiodo also worked at several area Subway shops. 

The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence issued a statement Wednesday in response to the fatal incident. The coalition called this incident "a stark reminder that we have a long way to go to achieve a Rhode Island that is free of domestic violence."