Guilty verdict is reached in trial for killer of former Cumberland man

AWarwick man on Friday was found guilty by a Kent County Superior Court jury of the 2015 murder of a former Cumberland man, Fernando “Captain Fredy” Silva, the Attorney General’s Office announced.

Richard Baribault, 42, of Warwick, was found guilty of murder, conspiracy, possession of a knife over three inches, receiving stolen property, and operating on a suspended license for his role in the Aug. 1, 2015 murder of Silva, who was affectionately known locally as “Captain Fredy.” The jury returned the guilty verdict after deliberating one day after a three-week trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Brian P. Stern.

Born in Portugal, Silva emigrated to the United States at a young age and later served as an Army veteran of the Vietnam War era. He later enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and also served in the Army National Guard.

Silva lived in Cumberland for many years and was the owner of the former Silva’s Auto Sales in Cumberland until his retirement.

He was an avid sailor who made headlines in the boating world for reportedly solo sailing a 20-foot boat from Rhode Island to Key Largo in 1997.

During the trial, the state proved that on July 31, 2015, Baribault and Troy Gunderway, who previously pleaded guilty to his role in the murder, learned that Silva had earlier won several hundred dollars playing Keno and the two men conspired to steal the money.

Baribault and Gunderway drove to the marina where Silva lived on his sailboat and

boarded the vessel. Silva, who was asleep at the time, awoke to noises and found Gunderway and Baribault in the cabin of the boat. Baribault struck Silva in the face several times and Gunderway restrained Silva by holding him in a headlock for several minutes while Baribault searched the boat for the Keno winnings.

During the assault, Baribault forcefully held a pocket knife to Silva’s neck and stomach, demanding the money, and kicked him several times. Silva died as a result of the blunt force trauma he sustained during the attack.

Over the next several days, Baribault and Gunderway attempted to hide their crime. On one occasion, they attempted to move the boat but the motor failed and they returned later in the day with a new motor, but it also failed to start. On another occasion, they brought a cooler containing bleach, a cinder block, and rope to the boat and cleaned the boat using the bleach.

Four days after the initial crime, Baribault and Gunderway returned to the boat where they were able to start the original motor. Gunderway piloted the vessel to a scenic overlook area of Warwick Cove, dropped anchor, and abandoned the vessel.

A few days later, Baribault and Gunderway realized that the boat had moved from the location where it was moored and after a search of Warwick Cove, they located the boat in the spot where the body was eventually located by a harbormaster.

Baribault remains held without bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept.15.