Lawsuit Seeks Police Records in 2021 Narragansett Death

Five years after his mother was found dead in her Narragansett home, William Soares is taking legal action in an effort to gain access to records from the investigation.

The New England First Amendment Coalition and Soares have filed a lawsuit against the Narragansett Police Department, challenging its refusal to release records connected to the 2021 death of Liliana Turano-Morris.

According to NEFAC, Turano-Morris was found dead in her home on April 13, 2021, with a gunshot wound to her head. Authorities ruled her death a suicide.

Soares has questioned the circumstances surrounding his mother's death and has sought access to police records related to the investigation.

According to NEFAC, the Narragansett Police Department has refused to release any documents despite multiple requests.

The department has cited privacy concerns and exemptions related to criminal investigations under Rhode Island's Access to Public Records Act, according to the lawsuit.

NEFAC and Soares argue those exemptions should not allow an entire case file to remain unavailable.

"For five years, the people who loved Liliana have lived without answers," Soares said in a statement released by NEFAC. "She deserved a thorough investigation, an honest record, and law enforcement agencies willing to show their work."

The lawsuit is being supported by the NEFAC Legal Fund, which funds journalism and open government litigation throughout New England.

The lawsuit does not establish that the original ruling on Turano-Morris's death was incorrect. Instead, the case centers on whether the Narragansett Police Department must release records from the investigation under Rhode Island's public records law.

The case is now before the court.