Daily Briefing: A decade-old death is back in the news

The Journal's Katie Mulvaney spent the past couple of weeks revisiting the death of David Heffron outside The Oaks Tavern in East Greenwich. [providencejournal.com]( [Daily Briefing]( Tuesday, November 15 [click here]( [Exclusive eNewspaper: Read today's newspaper online, and access hundreds of newspapers across the USA TODAY Network.]( [click here]( A 10-year-old death is making headlines again as a former State Police trooper is calling for an outside probe of the Rhode Island State Police's handling of allegations that former Lt. Col. Joseph Philbin could be linked to the death. The Journal's [Katie Mulvane]( spent the past couple of weeks revisiting the death of then 58-year-old David Heffron outside The Oaks Tavern in East Greenwich in March 2012. The story comes as former Trooper James Donnelly-Taylor has written to the House and Senate oversight committees asking for the investigation. A decade after Heffron's death discrepancies remain in some of the details surrounding his death. His widow, Tracy, told Mulvaney a doctor said her husband’s heart had stopped and that he’d died of cardiac arrest. The state medical examiner’s office, however, listed the cause of death as blunt trauma to the head with brain swelling and edema, subdural hemorrhage and skull fracture. [Lt. Col. Joseph F. Philbin, when he was the third-ranking officer for the Rhode Island State Police.] Lt. Col. Joseph F. Philbin, when he was the third-ranking officer for the Rhode Island State Police. Kris Craig, The Providence Journal The layers to this story also just don't stop. Witness stories are inconsistent. The former officer making the allegation was previously indicted on a charge of simple assault for striking a man at police barracks in 2014, leading him to lose his job. So what's going to happen next? [Read Katie Mulvaney's full story here to find out](. ARE YOU A PROVIDENCE JOURNAL SUBSCRIBER? If so we want to say thank you. November is National Gratitude Month, and we’re showing our gratitude for our subscribers with 30 days of contests, giveaways, prizes and special content. You can find everything you need and can even enter for a chance to see Blake Shelton's [Back to the Honky Tonk tour]( this March in Tampa, Florida, [right here](. Not a subscriber? It's not too late to become one and still have the opportunity to participate. [Join us by clicking here.]( WORTH A READ • [The Travel ranks Providence]( as having one the ten best outdoor skating rinks in the U.S. • More of a watch, but Seth Magaziner made an appearance [on Meet the Press]( to talk about Democrats holding onto seats in New England. • [Pensions & Investments]( looks at state treasurer races around the country, including Rhode Island, to see how candidates running on and against environmental, social and governance investing fared. • Expect [a mix of clouds and sun tomorrow]( as temps stay in the 40s. [Ashley Kalus, the Republican nominee for Governor of Rhode Island at Johnston High School polling station.]( FOR SUBSCRIBERS [Candidates only need 30-day residency for top office in RI]( To run for the state's top office in Rhode Island, you need only be here 30 days, be at least 18 years old and avoid a criminal conviction. [Judge strikes down Narragansett's 'three-student' rental ordinance]( [A view of the breachway from Champlin's seafood in]( [Rhode Island veteran benefits: What's available and how do you apply]( [The Providence VA Medical Center.]( FOR SUBSCRIBERS [SK beats rival NK for boys soccer crown]( [South Kingstown boys soccer]( Problem viewing email? [View in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( • [Manage Newsletters]( • [Terms of Service]( • [Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights]( • [Privacy Notice]( • [Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy]( • [Feedback]( © 2022 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902