Two indicted in 2008 slaying of brothers

Two men have been indicted for the previously unsolved 2008 murders of Taunton brothers Kevin and Shawn Vargas.

The Bristol County Grand Jury returned indictments on Kevin Cox, 26, of Berkley and Matthew Lander, 28, of Swansea, Bristol District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn’s office said.

Cox faces two counts of murder and two counts of armed robbery and will be arraigned in Fall River Superior Court today. Lander faces two counts of murder and one count of armed robbery. His arraignment date has not been set.

The murders occurred on Feb. 24, 2008, in Taunton. Authorities said the Taunton police responded to a report of shots fired at 729 Somerset Ave. and found Kevin Vargas, 23, and Shawn Vargas, 21, dead inside the studio apartment. Police also found Shawn Vargas’ 2–year-old and 4-year-old sons uninjured inside the apartment.

“I am very pleased the grand jury returned indictments against these two defendants,” Quinn said in a statement. “Although the case is 8A years old, our office never gave up on pursuing every lead in this ongoing investigation. I would like to specifically acknowledge Trooper Christopher Dumont of my office’s state police unit for his perseverance and thank the victims’ family for their patience during the past eight-and-a-half years. I know it has been very difficult for them.”

The investigation into the homicide remains active, the DA’s office said.