Two Massachusetts Men Arrested in Connection with 16-Year-Old Double Homicide Case Involving Siblings
Police arrested two men in connection with a double homicide that happened in a Massachusetts apartment in 2008, the Bristol County District Attorney stated.
Steven Fordham, 38, and Kaylen Scott, 36, of Worcester, were arrested in June for a 16-year-old double murder case, as per the District Attorney, WCVB reported. Both the men have been indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder.
Fordham and Scott allegedly shot Shawn Vargas and Kevin Vargas on February 24, 2008, in Kevin's apartment, at 729 Somerset Avenue in Taunton, WCVB reported.
During the alleged shooting, Shawn Vargas' sons were present in the apartment. The children, aged four and two, did not suffer from any injuries during the shooting.
In 2022, prosecutors argued, that on the day of the murder, the Vargas brothers were double-crossed by Fordham and Scott, The Enterprise reported. The brothers thought that it was a marijuana deal, when in reality it was an armed robbery, which eventually turned fatal, the outlet reported.
"I want to thank all the investigators, especially state police Lt. Christopher Dumont and Chief of our Homicide Unit Dennis Collins for their persistence and efforts in continuing to investigate this case. I would also like to thank the victims' families for their patience during the past 16 years. We look forward to prosecuting this case in court," Bristol County District Attorney, Thomas M. Quinn said, WCVB reported.
Catherine Burgess, the grandmother of the Vargas brothers, was waiting for almost a decade for the resolution of the murder case, The Enterprise reported.
"I ask God every night for justice for my grandsons and for the family so there can be some kind of closure," Burgess said via text message, The Enterprise reported. "They have no Christmas, no birthdays or their children's birthdays, etc. but the murderers have all those times. I do hope and pray this is the year for justice."
Burgess was emotional when the news of arrests was delivered to her, The Taunton Daily Gazette reported. "I'm very grateful to the law. I can't thank enough those who didn't give up on justice," she said.
A man named Matthew Lander went on trial for the murders of the Vargas brothers, The Taunton Daily Gazette reported. The man was found not guilty on all counts, by a grand jury in Fall River. Lander allegedly drove away in a car from the apartment after the killings.
On the day of the murder, Lander allegedly drove from Taunton to Brockton, where he picked up three men, and then returned to Taunton, The Taunton Daily Gazette reported.
The jury found Lander not guilty of the murder charges, as the evidence convinced them that the accused did not have any prior knowledge that the homicides would occur, The Taunton Daily Gazette reported.
The judge had previously dismissed five lesser counts against Lander – two counts of attempt to commit a crime, two counts of accessory after the fact, and one count of witness intimidation.
Fordham and Scott are currently being held without bail, and their pretrial hearing is set to occur on August 15, The Taunton Daily Gazette reported.