Providence, RI: Suspect in teen mom's death in court

Victor Arciliares ordered to undergo evaluation



Updated: Friday, 30 Oct 2009, 1:13 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 30 Oct 2009, 1:13 PM EDT

Nancy Krause
Reporting By: Danielle North
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Providence man accused of shooting to death his girlfriend appeared in District Court Friday morning. But instead of being arraigned on manslaughter charges as planned, Victor Arciliares, 20, was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation at the state mental hospital.

Police arrested Arciliares in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Dayvelliz Cotto, the mother of the couple's young daughter.

Police were called to a home on Montgomery Ave. for a disturbance Thursday afternoon. While heading to the scene, another call came in that someone may have been shot. When officers arrived, they said they found Cotto on the ground in the rear of the property, bleeding.

Emergency crews rushed Cotto to Rhode Island Hospital , where she was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police said Arciliares claimed responsibility for the shooting and told them it was an accident.

During the court proceeding Friday morning, Arciliares repeatedly muttered the victim's name and their daughter's name. Fearing Arciliares could be at risk for suicide, the judge the judge ordered him held for two weeks for psychological evaluation.

Providence police said the investigation is still continuing.