Richard Francis Vincent Pepe dies in fatal Martin County stabbing

Richard Francis Vincent Pepe dies in fatal Martin County stabbing

Fatal Martin County stabbing death of Richard Francis Vincent Pepe – Obituary

Richard Francis Vincent Pepe, 35, of Vero Beach, was fatally stabbed along Martin Highway near Mudfest over the weekend, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

Pepe was attending a Mudfest event at Plant Bamboo on State Road 714 when he got into a dispute with his girlfriend. After the argument, he left the venue and began walking along the road. Around a mile east of the event entrance, deputies believe the assault occurred. Pepe was found unresponsive and covered in blood near the 26000 block of Martin Highway shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following an investigation involving local and federal law enforcement, two suspects were arrested early Tuesday morning at a home in Okeechobee. Jacob Robert Allen Stevens, 34, was charged with first-degree premeditated murder, while Megan Nicole Brown, 39, was charged as an accessory after the fact. Authorities said Stevens, who did not know Pepe prior, stabbed him after spotting him walking down the road with Brown in the vehicle.

Martin County Sheriff’s officials said the suspects were not initially present at the event but came to the scene after the altercation and took matters into their own hands. The murder weapon has yet to be found, and the investigation remains ongoing as detectives continue interviewing witnesses.

Community members attending the event expressed surprise at the violent outcome, describing the weekend as peaceful and family-oriented.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.