It was revealed on Monday that the only eye witness in the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into a June 2018 murder was recently found dead in Eunice.
The witness was identified as Jonas Vigers during a recent bond hearing for Brandon Perkins. Perkins is accused of killing DeLanzo Veal at a trail ride that was hosted on Joe Fontenot Road.
Eunice Chief of Police Randy Fontenot confirmed Monday morning that Vigers had been found dead by his mother over Labor Day weekend.
Chief Fontenot said, “There had been some drinking going on in a parking lot in Eunice, and it appears he (Vigers) consumed too much alcohol.”
According to the Eunice Chief, following the gathering, Vigers “was brought home by some individuals. He then went to bed and was found dead by his mother the next morning.”
Chief Fontenot said that they are “waiting on the toxicology results,” however, “no foul play is suspected.”
During Perkins’ bond hearing on August 30, 2018, Vigers was the only individual named who had been questioned by the EPSO that said he saw Perkins shoot Veal.
Besides Vigers’ statement, the other evidence used by the EPSO that led to Perkins becoming a suspect in this crime was the fact that the defendant was seen speaking with Veal moments before Veal was shot three times.
During the hearing, Perkins’ council - attorney’s Brent Hawkins and Derrick Kee - questioned EPSO Captain, Duane Jorden, who testified that the weapon used had not been found. He also shared that DNA had been sent off to the crime lab for testing, but the EPSO had not yet received the results.
After it was revealed that the eye witness to the shooting was dead, Capt. Jorden shared that they will be talking to others who were present at the trail ride the night of the shooting.
Capt. Jorden said, “There is a long list of people we need to start calling and setting up interviews with. So we are going to start doing that.”
Currently Perkins is being housed at the Evangeline Parish Jail on a $1,000,000.00 bond.
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By: ELIZABETH WEST Managing Editor