Murder Victim Had Restraining Order

A woman found dead of apparent stab wounds in Newark on April 27 had a restraining order in effect against the man accused of killing her, according to court records.

Evangeline Supeda Contillo, 25, had a stay-away order against Jason Otis Monroe, 32, of Newark stemming from a Feb. 25 domestic battery case. The order was still in effect when she was , said Deputy District Attorney Andrew Ross.

Monroe was arrested on suspicion of murder by Newark police on the morning of the incident, after Contillo’s body was found in a home on the 36600 block of Cherry Street.

Monroe is believed to have lived with Contillo and his mother at the home, according to the district attorney’s office.

Monroe appeared in court Monday at 10 a.m., when Judge Dennis McLaughlin granted an order for a mental evaluation. Monroe is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday for a report on his mental state and to enter a plea.

“I’ve been on about 11 different medications,” Monroe told the judge Monday. He listed the antipsychotic drugs Geodon and Abiliify as previous medications. Both are used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information government website.

Ross said the Alameda County District Attorney's Office had no medical records on file for Monroe.

Monroe made a brief outburst as he was escorted out of the courtroom by a bailiff. “I love you … You better have my back,” Monroe shouted to a friend who attended the hearing.

When Monroe was arrested last week, he was found in front of the residence with his clothes and hands bloodied, according to Commander Bob Douglas of the .

Neither Contillo's cause of death nor a possible motive have been released by authorities.

Efforts to reach the Monroe family at the residence were unsuccessful last week, but a simple memorial sat on the porch of the Cherry Street home.

Newark Patch has not been able to contact the Contillo family yet, but what appears to be a memorial page in Contillo's name has been created on Facebook. Comments left on the page depict a woman well-known for her love for her two sons.

One friend wrote, "May you rest in paradise. Your babies will live on for you and I'm sure your family/friends will always remind them how much of a wonderful mother you were."

Another friend said, "...the boys will know their mommy and you were a great mommy."

Monroe was previously arrested and convicted on Feb. 28 on charges of misdemeanor battery, assault and corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant.

According to the district attorney's office, Contillo was the victim of the Feb. 28 assault and corporal injury charges, which resulted in a protective order against Monroe. 

Police confirm that they have been called to the residence before. 

"The  Newark Police Department has responded to that address several times and has contacted Mr. Monroe," Douglas said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Monroe is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.

Newark Patch editor Nika Megino contributed to this report.