Court dates reset for Vaca brothers linked to murder
A Solano County Superior Court judge has rescheduled a May preliminary hearing set for the coming months in a case involving two brothers charged in an April 2019 killing that Vacaville police say was a case of domestic violence.
Marcus James Smith, 45, and Kevin Michael Smith, 29, appeared May 13 in Department 4 for the proceedings in the case and set a new preliminary hearing date for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19 in the Hall of Justice in Fairfield.
Court records earlier showed that the elder Smith had faced a so-called “1368 doctor's report” concerning his mental competency, or his ability to aid in his own defense, but Nelson vacated those proceedings for an unknown reason and rescheduled them for July 14. The judge ordered another psychiatric examination July 21 and heard the doctor's report Aug. 24.
The elder Smith is represented by criminal defense attorney Amy Morton. The Public Defender represents the younger brother. Senior Deputy District Attorney Julie Underwood leads the prosecution.
Court records indicate Marcus Smith is alleged to have killed Ronelyn Egipto, 50, early April 13 in Vacaville. He and his younger brother were arrested the same day, the elder Smith on suspicion of murder, his brother on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. Both were later booked into Solano County Jail.
Shortly afterward, Kevin Smith posted a $25,000 bond and was released from custody. His older brother, however, remains in custody at the Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield.
Events unfolded around 2:30 a.m., when Vacaville police responded to reports of a domestic dispute on Peregrine Way.
When officers arrived, Egipto was found dead within the residence and two men, later identified as the Smith brothers, were taken into custody, officials said.
Investigators believe Egipto and the elder Smith brother had a romantic relationship, Lt. Mark Donaldson told The Reporter after the Smiths were arrested.
Details leading up to the violence are unclear, although Donaldson said Egipto died “as a result of blunt force trauma throughout her body.”
Explaining Kevin Smith's charge, Donaldson said the younger brother received a call from his brother and arrived at the home. Investigators do not believe he was involved in the murder but helped his older brother by “cleaning up” evidence.
If found guilty of firstdegree murder, the elder Smith faces 25 years to life in state prison. Kevin Smith, if found guilty of being an accessory, faces as little as a year in jail or as much as three years in prison.