Details emerge after authorities claim to identify alleged serial killer responsible for series of brutal murders
Authorities believe they have traced the alleged culprit behind the death of two people over a decade ago.
Kevin Lino, 38, of Lowell, has been charged with killing two people in Massachusetts, according to prosecutors.
Lino is already serving a life sentence plus 40 years in prison for the murders of Norman Varieur in Charlestown in 2012 and Jack Gilbert Berry in 2014.
However, prosecutors have now brought additional charges which allege that Varieur and Berry weren't the only people to be killed by Lino.
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Charges brought against Lino claim that in 2010, two years before he killed Mr Varieur, he had allegedly carried out another brutal killing at a homeless encampment at Lowell, where he had been staying at the time.
The first alleged murder in 2010, when Lino was 23 years old, saw him reportedly attack 54-year-old Gary Melanson with an aluminium baseball bat.
Lino had reportedly become angry when Mr Melanson refused to put out a fire after he asked him to, resorting to violence when Mr Melanson ignored him.
In a statement describing the alleged attack, Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said: "After the victim allegedly ignored the defendant’s order, the defendant rushed the victim, who was much smaller and older than the defendant, and struck him repeatedly with a metal baseball bat, killing him."
Then, two years later, the District Attorney's Office claimed that Lino had attempted to drive heroin users out of a camp where he was living, beginning by 'assaulting many of them throughout the day'.
Douglas Leon Clarke, 30, would then confront Lino, who 'resolved to punish him for his insolence by poisoning him'.
Prosecutors further allege that Lino poisoned Clarke by giving him a dose of heroin, which was large enough to kill him, known as a 'hot shot'.
"This defendant is alleged to repeatedly and deliberately victimize some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, unhoused individuals. The actions alleged in these cases were not only violent and cruel, but inhumane," District Attorney Marian Ryan said in the press release.
"We recognize the pain and uncertainty endured by the families and friends of Mr. Melanson and Mr. Clarke, who have long awaited answers about what happened to their loved ones. It is our hope that today’s arraignments will bring them a measure of peace."
In an interview with Boston 25 News, Ryan further defined Lino as being a 'serial killer', adding: " Mr Lino is a serial killer. The Department of Justice defines a serial killer as someone who has taken the life of two individuals in separate situations.
"In this case we have already convictions in two. We’ve now brought charges in two more.”
She went on to claim how Lino had allegedly targeted 'vulnerable' people, such as homeless people, saying: "This defendant is alleged to repeatedly and deliberately victimize some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, unhoused individuals.
"The actions alleged in these cases were not only violent and cruel, but inhumane."
Ryan also said that they are continuing to explore the possibility of other victims, adding: "You know, we continue to investigate that
"We never give up on those cases. We don’t forget about them, and we stay open to other information."
Lino is currently awaiting trial for the two cases.
Kit Roberts