Dead Eunice man ID’d as witness to killing

The only eyewitness in the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into a June murder was recently found dead in Eunice.
The witness was identified as Jonas Vigers during a recent bond hearing for Brandon Perkins.
Perkins is accused of killing DeLanzo Veal at a trail ride held on Joe Fontenot Road.
Eunice Chief of Police Randy Fontenot confirmed Monday that Vigers had been found dead by his mother over Labor Day weekend.
Fontenot said, “There had been some drinking going on in a parking lot in Eunice, and it appears he (Vigers) consumed too much alcohol.”
Following the gathering, Vigers “was brought home by some individuals. He then went to bed and was found dead by his mother the next morning,” Fontenot said.
Eunice Police are waiting toxicology results, however, no foul play is suspected, he said.
During Perkins’ bond hearing on Aug. 30, Vigers was the only individual named who had been questioned by the sheriff’s investigators who said he saw Perkins shoot Veal.
Besides Vigers’ statement, the other evidence used by the sheriff’s investigators that led to Perkins becoming a suspect in this crime was the that the defendant was seen speaking with Veal moments before Veal was shot three times.
During the hearing, Perkins’ council,attorneys Brent Hawkins and Derrick Kee, questioned Sheriff’s Capt. Duane Jorden, who testified that the weapon used had not been found. He also shared that DNA had been sent off to the crime lab for testing, but the sheriff’s investigators had not yet received the results.
After it was revealed that the eyewitness to the shooting was dead, Jorden said they will be talking to others who were present at the trail ride the night of the shooting.
Jorden said, “There is a long list of people we need to start calling and setting up interviews with. So we are going to start doing that.”
Perkins is held at the Evangeline Parish Jail on a $1 million bond.