Couple arrested in fatal stabbing of Vero Beach man following Mudfest 2025 event

On June 3, Florida’s Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Detectives announced making two arrests in connection with the death of 35-year-old Richard Francis Vincent Pepe of Vero Beach.  Pepe was found unresponsive and covered in blood along the 26000 block of Martin Highway (CR 714, Martin Grade) just after 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Pepe had attended one of the many Mudfest events at Plant Bamboo off State Road 714 when he got into an altercation with his girlfriend, according to WPTV.  He left the event and was walking along CR 714 where officials believe the stabbing took place.  The sheriff’s office said they received several 911 calls late that night, including from the victim, saying he’d been stabbed.

Following a criminal investigation, and with the assistance of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office and the US Marshals Regional Task Force, Martin County detectives served a search warrant at a house located in the 14-thousand block of NW 300th Street in Okeechobee. Following that search, two individuals were taken into custody early this morning.

Jacob Robert Allen Stevens, 34, has been charged with First-Degree Premeditated Murder. Meagon Nicole Brown, 39, has been charged with First Degree Murder Accessory After the fact. The two were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Detectives say that the case remains active and ongoing. Investigators continue to interview multiple witnesses and gather statements from individuals familiar with the victim and the suspects.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, additional information regarding this case is expected to be released by the end of the week, including possible motives for the killing.

Anyone who attended the large gathering at Plant Bamboo, or were near the location of the incident and have additional information about this murder, or anyone who may have witnessed any altercation in the area that night is urged to contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 772-220-7060. You can also call Treasure Coast Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous.

For more on the deadly stabbing, see the video accompanying this article.

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(Source and arrest photos: Martin County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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