MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — Two people have been arrested in the death of a man found "unresponsive and covered in blood" along Martin Highway near Mudfest over the weekend, the Martin County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.
Deputies said the victim, Richard Francis Vincent Pepe, 35, of Vero Beach, was at a Mudfest event at Plant Bamboo off State Road 714 when he got into an altercation with his girlfriend.
WATCH BELOW: Man, woman arrested in deadly stabbing
The sheriff’s office said they received several 911 calls late Saturday night, including from the victim, alleging he had been stabbed.
"He got away from the event and started walking down 714. About a mile east of 714 from the entrance to Plant Bamboo is where we think the altercation that resulted in him being injured happened," said MCSO Maj. Ruben Romero.
Pepe had been stabbed twice and was found unresponsive and covered in blood along the 26000 block of Martin Highway just after 10 p.m. Saturday. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
Following an extensive investigation, and with the assistance of the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Regional Task Force, Martin County detectives served a search warrant at a house located in the 14000 block of Northwest 300th Street in Okeechobee. Following that search, two suspects were taken into custody early Tuesday morning.
WATCH: MCSO says victim called 911
Authorities arrested Jacob Robert Allen Stevens, 34, on a first-degree premeditated murder charge and his girlfriend, Megan Nicole Brown, 39, on an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder charge.
Deputies said Pepe left the venue after the altercation with his girlfriend. He was walking along State Road 714 when Stevens and Brown spotted him from their vehicle. Investigators said Stevens, who didn't know Pepe, stabbed him.
“We do know that the two people involved, the two people arrested were not originally at Plant Bamboo," Maj. Romero said. "They were called as a result of this altercation and them taking matters into their own hands and now we have the victim of a stabbing.”
WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with people who attended the multi-day event over the weekend. Some were surprised to learn about the homicide and said nothing at the event could have raised red flags.
“This was the most relaxed, family-oriented weekend I’ve ever been to here. I mean, I brought three kids of my own," said Tyler Reitchman. "There were no arguments, there were no fights. It was actually a really good time.”
WATCH: Man's body found near Mudfest in Martin County
MCSO said the arrests of Stevens and Brown mark a "significant development in the investigation," but said the case remains active and ongoing. The sheriff's office said investigators continue to interview multiple witnesses and gather statements from individuals familiar with the victim and the suspects.
More information about this case is expected to be released by the end of the week, the sheriff's office said, including possible motives for the killing, as detectives continue their investigation.
The sheriff's office said they are still looking for the murder weapon.
Anyone who attended the large gathering at Plant Bamboo, or anyone who may have witnessed any altercation in the area that night, or were near the location of the incident and have additional information about this fatal stabbing, should call the Martin County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division at 772-220-7060.
More of WPTV's coverage on this story:
Region Martin County
MCSO: Man found dead near Mudfest called 911 to say he'd been stabbed
Region Martin County
