A 27-year-old Newport man has been indicted for murder in the death of his girlfriend.
Ryan Steven Gaskins was already being held in the Lincoln County Jail on an “unrelated matter” before Tuesday’s indictment, Newport police said Thursday. He will be arraigned Thursday on murder, second-degree assault and strangulation charges.
In October, police found Alexandra Prezioso, 34, dead in the home she and Gaskins shared. At the time Prezioso’s mother described her daughter as “sweet and smart, well-traveled and cultured.”
A friend described her on the page as a “beautiful and unique soul.”Gaskins has a history of threats and violence against Prezioso, court records show.
In 2017, he was charged with domestic violence that caused her “serious physical injury.” The case also included kidnapping, reckless endangerment and other charges. Benton County prosecutors alleged that on Nov. 28, 2017, Gaskins choked Prezioso, “blocking [her] nose and/or blocking the mouth.”
He also allegedly terrorized her by recklessly driving a car while “telling her she might die in a car crash.” In that case, he pleaded guilty to strangulation, menacing and other charges.
Over the years he’s also been convicted of criminal trespass and theft, and he’s faced disorderly conduct charges.
