I-95 Crash In Rhode Island Leads To New Hampshire Stabbing Suspect, Gal Pal: State Police

HOPKINTON, RI — A crash on Interstate 95 in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, on Friday led to the arrest of a felon from Florida accused of stabbing a woman in Nashua on Wednesday.

Limited information is available at post time, but according to RI State Police, Kelvin Lewis, 32, with a last known address of Cottage Street in Everett, Massachusetts, and Melanie Diperna, 23, of Garden Street in Northfield, New Hampshire, were driving in a stolen motor vehicle when they crashed on the Interstate sometime before 1:15 p.m. on Friday. State police investigated the incident and arrested them both on a slew of charges.

Lewis was charged with fugitive from justice out of New Hampshire for first-degree assault as well as possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of simple assault, assault with intent to commit specified felonies, attempted robbery-carjacking, breaking and entering of a dwelling when residents on premises, and obstruction of an officer in the execution of duty.

Diperna was also charged with a fugitive from justice warrant issued out of Hillsborough County Superior Court for failure to appear on receiving stolen property, dealing in or possessing prescription drugs, possession of fentanyl, and possession of buprenorphine charges. She was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, breaking and entering of a dwelling when residents on premises, and obstruction of an officer in the execution of duty.

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Lewis and Diperna were taken from the Hope Valley state police barracks, processed and arraigned, and taken to the Adult Correctional Institute Intake Center.

Nashua Stabbing Incident

On Wednesday, police in Nashua were called to a report of an assault in the area of Pine and West Hollis streets.

At the scene, officers found a woman who was stabbed. The woman, according to Lt. Joshua Albert of the Nashua Police Department, was known to the suspect. After the stabbing, the suspect fled the area, police said.

Nashua police investigate a stabbing on Wednesday. Credit: Jeffrey Hastings/Frame of Mind Photography

The woman was taken to the hospital and then transported to Boston for more treatment.

Nashua police identified Lewis as a suspect, and Albert issued an alert Friday with a possible “armed and dangerous” warning.

Later that afternoon, he said Lewis had been arrested out of state.

Concord Prowling Incident

On Oct. 23, while on patrol near the city’s bus depot, a Concord police officer saw a man in pajamas who appeared to be taking items out of a vehicle.

The officer approached the man and requested backup after seeing a woman at the scene, too. One of the vehicles, dispatch said, was reported stolen. About a minute later, the man, later identified as Lewis, and the woman, who was not identified, fled the area in different directions.

After officers set up a grid and searched the area, Lewis was eventually found but was accused of continuing to flee from police. He was Tased later and arrested on loitering and prowling and resisting arrest.

Lewis’ Florida Crimes

According to online reports, Lewis, a felon, was arrested in Fruitland Park, FL, in October 2017, after being accused of waving a .22 caliber pistol at his girlfriend during an argument.

After the argument, he put the weapon in his waistband, and the gun fired into his right calf, the report said.

The report said Lewis, at first, attempted to treat himself but later called 911 for assistance. He was also accused of telling the woman to tell police that someone else shot him. Police, however, did not buy the story after finding an extra magazine for the gun with Lewis' belongings after he was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center for treatment, the report said.

Lewis was required to stay away from the victim due to a 2004 injunction after being charged with aggravated assault with a firearm with intent to kill, possession of firearm ammunition by a convicted felon, and violation of a domestic violence injunction, a report stated.

DiPerna’s Recent Arrests

DiPerna has been racking up felony charges in the Granite State for several months and misdemeanor charges before those charges, according to court and online reports.

On Jan. 10, 2020, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, DiPerna was arrested on a malicious destruction of property-$1,200 charge after an incident on Broadway. According to the Chelsea Record, a resident reported a woman, unknown to them, was damaging the front glass door of the home.

“Officers made contact with the female who appeared to be upset and agitated,” the newspaper said. “The officers spoke with multiple residents who heard and witnessed the female punch and kick the front door, causing the glass to crack and break.”

DiPerna was then arrested. She was also found to have an active warrant, Chelsea police reported online.

On July 28, 2021, while homeless in Nashua, she was arrested on a simple assault charge. Nashua police also accused her of theft, less than $1,000, on March 28.

Also, in late March, she was arrested on two felony drug possession charges and two deal-possess prescription drugs charges in Manchester. According to police, DiPerna and two other people crossed the street while a crosswalk sign said, “do not walk,” and were seen and spoken to by two officers. They were given verbal warnings. However, DiPerna, according to dispatch, had a warrant and four bench warrants out of Nashua and was arrested. During a search, she was accused of having 4.2 grams of heroin-fentanyl, 0.4 grams of another powdery substance, 36 Prazosin hydrochloride pills, four Pliva trazodone hydrochloride pills in a prescription bottle with another person’s name on it, and three buprenorphine strips.

DiPerna failed to appear at dispositional conference hearings in Hillsborough County Superior Court North on May 27, June 28, July 14, and Sept. 22.

In mid-April, DiPerna was arrested on a felony receiving stolen property charge in Manchester. She was accused of driving a stolen 2008 Nissan Altima in Manchester and was pulled over due to motor vehicle violations. During questioning, DiPerna said the car belonged to “my home-boy,” a man named Juan, but the car was registered to his girlfriend. She was issued a summons and released. However, officers caught up with her later after finding out the car was reported stolen four days before, an affidavit said.

DiPerna failed to appear at the arraignment on Hillsborough County Superior Court North in mid-May and again in mid-June.

In early May, she was arrested again by Manchester police on warrants, controlled drug: controlled premises where drugs kept, breach of bail, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and two felony drug possession charges.

According to an affidavit, a sergeant and officer patrolling an area known for illegal drug activity spotted a car cruising area with four passengers inside. When the car's driver made a motor vehicle violation, it was stopped.

The driver, later identified as DiPerna, was accused of not providing her information but was later identified and found to have active a warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and an electronic bench warrant out of Milford District Court for willful concealment. She was arrested and accused of possessing crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

On Aug. 12, the possession charges were dismissed without prejudice. But she missed a hearing in September.

Warrants were issued for her arrest on Sept. 22 for all those cases.

In Londonderry, on July 12, DiPerna was arrested on a warrant in Manchester around 8 p.m. on felony receiving stolen property, indecent exposure and gross lewdness, conduct after an accident charges as well as “hands-free” and operating without a valid license violations. On Aug. 17, before she was to be arraigned on the charges. Assistant County Attorney Marcia Rosenn notified the Rockingham County Superior Court that her office was pulling the charges. She added, “the state retains authority to bring charge(s) against the defendant before the statute of limitation expires.”

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