On Sunday, March 7, 1993, my 30-year-old mother Lori Lee Malloy was found naked and dead by police on the bathroom floor of our apartment. Clumps of her hair were scattered everywhere, slices of bread were around her body, two drinking glasses were on the kitchen table, the bathroom faucet was left running and the front door was slightly ajar.

The detective's division was called to the scene and immediately considered her case a homicide.

Less than a week later, a medical examiner (ME) — who later lost his license to practice in RI, after losing it in MA, and was eventually sued by another family — determined my mom died of "natural causes." Her case was closed. 

In 2020, after learning about the circumstances surrounding my mom's suspicious death, I launched my own investigation, painstakingly reviewing her original autopsy, police reports, journals, re-interviewing witnesses and more. I met with RI's Chief ME, who stated her autopsy was wrong and she did not die of natural causes. He suggested we needed state involvement and I contacted the RI Attorney General's (AGs) Office, who began reviewing her case. In March 2022, an independent forensic expert determined that my mother's originally listed cause of death was unlikely to be correct. 

After exhaustive efforts, including creating a petition that received thousands of signatures, media outreach, repeated rejections and countless requests for answers, the AG's Office motioned for my mother to be exhumed. In November 2022, a Court granted the state's request to exhume my mom. Her exhumation took place on February 1, 2023, and we are presently awaiting results from her modern forensic examination.

In December 2022, the RI AG's Office requested funding for a statewide cold case unit, the first in RI. While the initial request was not included in the Governor's 2023 budget, the AG's Office committed to getting this goal accomplished. I created a petition and testified at legislative sessions in support of this effort. On June 2, 2023, the General Assembly unanimously voted to fund the unit.

Through my work, I am also inspired to create Lori's Law, which would require a third party review for all cases in which there is a discrepancy between law enforcement and medical examiner opinions. 

Lori's Law would set a new standard for how suspicious deaths are investigated, ensuring alignment among all agencies involved and preventing other cases like my mom's from slipping through the cracks. 

There is a major cost associated with cases like these, that goes far beyond the additional dollars spent assigning detectives, prosecutors and medical personnel. For me, the cost was nearly three years of my life spent relentlessly pursuing the real reasons my mom died, indescribable moments analyzing the details of her death and several instances where I found myself in dangerous situations along the path to justice. 

No family should have to go through what mine did, what many others do every day. Lori's Law would aim to change the game for victims and families by providing a fair chance at justice for all.

I am seeking support from the community, state representatives and senators, and any others inspired to enact positive change.

Please sign and share to support Lori's Law.

Note: you do not need to be a resident of RI to support this petition. It is open to all.