Family of man who died 7 years ago says police covered up cause

DEDHAM, Mass. – It’s been more than seven years since a 23-year-old Dedham man was found dead in Providence, Rhode Island in what police believe is an accident, but his family still believes there’s more to it than that.

On March 13, 2010, Gregory Hard and three friends were at the Red Room bar in Providence. Around 1:30 a.m. he left without a word, and disappeared for three days.

His body was found less than a mile away in the Woonasquatucket River.

“He didn't die he was murdered,” Gregory’s father John Hart told Boston 25 News reporter Bob Ward.

The medical examiner ruled Gregory’s death accidental, saying injuries he had sustained were the result of his fall into the river. His family believes that’s not the case though.

At the time, the wife of a Providence detective owned the bar, another detective owned the land it was on.

“I think he was beat up in the Red Room by the bouncer, and a couple of cops who probably had tasers, murdered him,” John Hart said.

Providence Police Major David Lapatin took Boston 25 News to the spot where Gregory's body was found.

“We believe Hart was walking down this trail that night. And somehow someway he ended up in the water,” Lapatin said.

Seven years later, the family still thinks there was a cover up, but police say that’s simply not true.

“It was a tragedy. Whatever we can do. We are going to do. This department does not cover up anything,” Lapatin said.

Gregory Hart's family is not stopping its search for answers, and his father says they still don’t know what happened.

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