Suspect In Manahawkin Man's Murder In Vermont Apprehended in Texas

Kevin DeOliveira was murdered more than two years ago at his apartment in Burlington, Vermont and no one had any idea who killed him.

DeOliviera, 23, was fatally shot on Jan. 2, 2015. An El Paso, Texas federal judge on Monday ordered Richard Monroe, 24 detained. He will eventually be brought back to Vermont for an arraignment, according to TapInto.net

Monroe is accused of fatally shooting former University of Vermont student DeOliveira, 23, on Jan. 2, 2015, at the victim's Greene Street apartment. Monroe's arrest came after 2 1/2 years of investigation by the Burlington Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Monroe, 24, a former Champlain College student, signed a document on Tuesday waiving his right to a detention hearing in El Paso and requesting the hearing be held in Vermont, where he faces charges.

Prosecutors believe Monroe shot and killed DeOliveira, formerly of New Jersey, as part of a dispute related to a cocaine debt involving the two college students, according to the report. DeOliveira's body was found in his apartment Jan. 3, 2015.

Vermont authorities said almost from the beginning they believe the murder was drug-related.

The Burlington, Vermont police chief said in early 2015 t Oliveira's death was probably former related to drugs, according to a story in the Burlington Free Press.

“The investigation has revealed that there is a high likelihood that Kevin’s murder has a nexus to drugs and drug distribution,” Police Chief Mike Schirling and Detective Dan Gilligan said recently, according to the story.
Investigators have said since the beginning that they believed the slaying was not random and that there was no risk to the public. Their statement was based on leads from the public and DeOliveira’s friends and contacts, the story states.

Image: Patch file photo.