Trial set for February for brothers accused of 2019 murder of Vaca woman

A Solano County Superior Court judge on Monday postponed until February the jury trial of one of two brothers charged in the 2019 murder of a Vacaville woman and the other in connection with the crime.

Marcus James Smith and Kevin Michael Smith appeared in Department 11 for trial, and Judge William J. Pendergast ordered them to return for trial at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 25 at the Justice Center in Fairfield.

The judge also set some preliminary matters for the brothers’ trial, including a confirmation of trial for 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 6 and a trial management conference for 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 13.

Fairfield criminal defense attorney Thomas M. Maas is representing the elder Smith, who is 47. Assistant Public Defender Jeannette Garcia is representing the younger brother, who is 31. Assistant District Attorney Amanda Hopper is leading the prosecution.

The Smith brothers’ latest court date comes after a previously scheduled jury trial in August and a preliminary hearing in May 2023, with the presentation of evidence and testimony, for what investigators say is a domestic violence case.

Court documents state that in July 2021, Marcus Smith was the subject of a “1368 medical report” regarding his mental competency, or his ability to participate in his own defense. Judge E. Bradley Nelson, now retired, who was hearing the case at the time, canceled that proceeding for an unknown reason and adjourned it to July 14, 2021. The judge ordered another psychiatric evaluation on July 21 and heard the doctor’s report on August 24. Criminal charges against Smith were reinstated the following day.

The prosecutor’s office filed a formal criminal complaint on April 16, 2019.

Court documents show that Marcus Smith allegedly killed Ronelyn Egipto, 50, in the early hours of April 13 in Vacaville. He and his younger brother were arrested the same day — the elder Smith on suspicion of murder, his brother suspected of being an accessory after the fact. Both were later booked into the Solano County Jail.

Shortly after, Kevin Smith posted $25,000 bail and was released. Smith’s father, however, remains in custody without bail at Stanton Correctional Facility in Fairfield.

Court records show the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m., when Vacaville police responded to reports of a domestic dispute on Peregrine Way.

Egipto was found dead by police inside the residence, and two men, later identified as the Smith brothers, were taken into custody, authorities said.

Investigators believe Egipto and the Smiths’ older brother had a romantic relationship, retired Lt. Mark Donaldson told the Reporter after the Smiths’ arrest.

The 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 accusations, Donaldson said the younger brother received a call from his brother and arrived home. Investigators do not believe he was involved in the murder but that he helped his older brother by “cleaning up” evidence.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Marcus Smith faces 25 years to life in prison. His younger brother, if convicted of aiding and abetting, faces a one-year prison sentence.