Crime & Safety

Stabbing Murder Case Delayed to May

No testimonies have been heard in the case of Jason Monroe, 33, of Newark. Monroe faces

It’s been almost one year since Jason Otis Monroe, 33, of Newark was arrested on suspicion of fatally stabbing his girlfriend.Still, no preliminary testimonies have been heard.

Monroe’s preliminary hearing was delayed once again Thursday morning after his brief appearance at the Fremont Hall of Justice.

He spoke only to his attorney, while flashing a smile toward his family members who were present in the courtroom. Monroe faces one count of murder for the , then-25.

Find out what's happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

His attorney Deputy Public Defender Sam Yun requested that the hearing be delayed yet again.

An introduction of the evidence in the murder case will be presented during his next court appearances, which are scheduled May 21-24.

Find out what's happening in Newarkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Monroe to the murder on Nov. 4. His pre-trial hearing has been delayed three times, with the first postponement granted on Jan. 20 when Yun confirmed that at that time. John George is a psychiatric hospital associated with Alameda County Medical Center.

The state of Monroe’s mental condition is still unknown. However, Monroe previously announced in court that , including Geodon and Abiliify. Both medicines are used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information government website.

His attorney and Deputy District Attorney Lindsay Walsh have not commented on the matter.

During his early court appearances, Monroe has also made , stating that his children were “caught in the middle of something horrific” and requesting to represent himself.

He has kept to himself in court since accepting a public defender to represent him.

Court documents show that Contillo had at the time of her death. The stay-away order is said to have stemmed from a Feb. 28 incident that resulted in Monroe being arrested and charged with assault and corporal injury against Contillo. 

Monroe was arrested April 27 after police responded the 36600 block of Cherry Street and found Monroe covered in blood and Contillo inside of the home.

The pair is said to have been living inside the one-story home on Cherry Street with their two children and Monroe’s mother at the time of the murder.

Monroe is being held on no bail at Santa Rita Jail. He will return to Fremont Hall of Justice at 2 p.m. in Dept. 605 on May 21.

Other court appearances are as follows (chronological order):

  • April 29: Monroe appeared in court for an arraignment, but it was pushed to May 2.
  • May 2: Judge Dennis McLaughlin ordered a mental evaluation after Monroe stated he had been taking a variety of antipsychotic drugs. It was also learned that Contillo had a restraining order against him at the time of her murder.
  • May 4: Monroe appeared in court with Public Defender Kristen McCannon and after making dramatic statements in which he claimed his children were “caught in the middle of something horrific.”
  • May 6: Monroe himself and McLaughlin accepted Monroe’s request to be represented by a public defender.
  • May 18: Monroe , and a plea was scheduled for June.
  • June 24: Monroe’s
  • Sept. 1: Monroe’s
  • Nov. 24: Monroe to one count of murder.
  • Jan. 20: Monroe’s and states that Monroe is at John George.
  • Feb. 17: Monroe’s and scheduled for March 15 and his preliminary examination is set for May 21-24.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Newark