Captain Fredy's Killer Found Guilty: AG

WARWICK, RI — Fernando “Captain Fredy” Silva was murdered on his sailboat in a Warwick marina on Aug. 1, 2015. Silva had won a few hundred dollars playing Keno. On July 31, Troy Gunderway and Richard Baribault found out about his good fortune and hatched a plot to rob him.

According to Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin's office, they drove to the marina where Captain Fredy lived on his sailboat, the 26-foot Star Cappella, and boarded the vessel.

"Captain Fredy, who was asleep at the time, awoke to noises and found Gunderway and Baribault in the cabin of the boat," Kilmartin's office said. "Baribault struck Captain Fredy in the face several times. Gunderway then restrained Captain Fredy by holding him in a head lock for several minutes while Baribault searched the boat for Freddy’s winnings. During the assault, Baribault forcefully held a pocket knife to Captain Fredy’s neck and stomach demanding the money and kicked him several times throughout the assault and robbery. Captain Fredy died as a result of the blunt force trauma he sustained during the violent attack."

The two men tried to cover up the murder, but things went wrong. The motor failed when they tried to move the boat. They came back a day later with a new motor, which also failed to start. Another time, they brought a cooler with bleach and cleaned the boat. They also carried on a cinder block and a rope.

On Aug. 4, 2015, Kilmartin's office said, "Baribault and Gunderway returned to the boat where they were able to start the original motor. Gunderway piloted the boat to a scenic overlook area of Warwick Cove, dropped anchor, and abandoned the vessel. He used the dinghy to row to shore, where he was picked up by Baribault.
A few days later, Baribault and Gunderway realized that the boat had moved from the location where it was moored. After a search of Warwick Cove, they located the boat in the spot where the body was eventually located by Harbormaster Jeff Barris."

Gunderway has already pleaded guilty to the crime. On Friday, a Kent County jury found Baribault, 42, of Warwick, guilty of murder, conspiracy, possession of a knife over three inches, receiving stolen property, and operating on a suspended license.

He is being held without bail pending Sept. 15 sentencing.