Testimony: Murder Suspect Refused Firefighters' Help

The Johnston man accused of murdering his children's mother refused firefighters' help as they tried to save his children from a smoky house, according to testimony from Johnston firefighters this morning, the Providence Journal reported.

Donald Greenslit, 53, refused to allow Battalion Chief Ronald Castelli and Lt. Brian Elmasian to enter the smoky home, even though his children were in their rooms upstairs, the two firefighters testified. The firefighters described arriving at the home Jan. 22 last year and facing orders from Greenslit to leave the house. 

The source of smoke was identified as a fireplace located in the basement of the home, and an obstructed chimney caused smoke to billow into the residence. Johnston Fire Department personnel discovered unidentifiable charred and burned human remains wrapped in burnt cloth resting directly in front of the fireplace. Also visible was a bone, approximately 10 inches in length, which appeared to have been cut with a saw type tool.

There were other remains discovered when Johnston firefighters were trying to ensure that the fire had been completely extinguished.

Greenslit faces one count each of domestic murder, failure to report a death, obstruction of a police officer and violating a no-contact order in the death of Stacie DeSantis-Dorego, 39. He has been held at the Adult Correctional Institutes since his arrest last January.