A chilling revelation has surfaced in New England, as authorities now believe they’ve identified a serial killer responsible for a string of cold case murders spanning over a decade. The name is Kevin Lino, a 38-year-old man already serving a life sentence, and the scope of his alleged crimes is only beginning to come into focus.
The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office recently brought additional charges against Lino, alleging his involvement in two murders from 2010 and 2012. District Attorney Marian Ryan stated unequivocally: “Mr. Lino is a serial killer.” The definition, she explained, hinges on taking the lives of two individuals in separate incidents – a threshold already met with previous convictions.
For months, a dark cloud of fear has hung over the region, fueled by the discovery of numerous bodies across Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. While Lino hasn’t yet been directly linked to those deaths, investigators are meticulously examining potential connections, refusing to close the door on any possibility.
Lino is already incarcerated for the brutal murders of two homeless men, Norman Varieur in 2012 and Jack Gilbert Berry in 2014. These convictions secured him a sentence of life plus 40 years, but the investigation didn’t stop there. The pursuit of justice continued, relentlessly digging into the past.
Prosecutors now allege Lino’s first murder occurred in 2010, at a homeless encampment in Lowell, Massachusetts. The victim, 54-year-old Gary Melanson, was reportedly beaten to death with an aluminum baseball bat after refusing to extinguish a small campfire. The disparity in size and age between Lino and Melanson paints a grim picture of the attack.
Two years later, near Harvard Square, Lino allegedly targeted heroin users within a homeless community, attempting to drive them away. When 30-year-old Douglas Leon Clarke confronted him, Lino allegedly responded with a horrifying act of calculated cruelty.
Prosecutors claim Lino poisoned Clarke with a fatal dose of heroin – a practice chillingly known as a “hot shot.” This wasn’t a crime of passion, but a deliberate act of punishment for perceived insolence, revealing a disturbing pattern of control and violence.
The District Attorney’s Office described Lino’s actions as “violent and cruel, but inhumane,” emphasizing the vulnerability of his alleged victims. He preyed on those already marginalized, those with little recourse and even less protection.
Lino now faces two additional counts of first-degree murder and remains in custody while awaiting trial for the deaths of Clarke and Melanson. Authorities are actively pursuing leads, determined to uncover the full extent of his crimes and bring closure to any other potential victims.
The investigation remains open, a testament to the unwavering commitment to justice. As the District Attorney stated, “We never give up on those cases. We don’t forget about them, and we stay open to other information.” The search for truth continues, hoping to finally silence the shadow of this alleged serial killer.
