In the summer of 2017, the life of 24-year-old Valdez Loiseau, a Black/African American male from Cranston, Rhode Island, was tragically cut short in a violent series of events that began in his own home. On July 18, 2017, Loiseau's body was discovered in a wooded area in Attleboro, Massachusetts, just across the state line. An officer on patrol had initially spotted what appeared to be a brush fire in the early morning hours, but upon closer inspection, the grim reality of a human body that had been set ablaze was revealed.
The investigation quickly led authorities back to Cranston, to the residence Loiseau shared with his girlfriend, Melonie Perez, and her 17-year-old son, Xavier Vidot. It was inside this home on Edgewood Avenue that the tragic events unfolded. According to police, Loiseau and Perez had been involved in a physical altercation. In what he would later claim was an act of defense for his mother, Vidot shot Loiseau. Following the fatal shooting, Vidot and his mother, Melonie Perez, transported Loiseau's body to Attleboro, where they attempted to dispose of it by setting it on fire.
The investigation proceeded swiftly, with Cranston police identifying Loiseau and linking him to the Edgewood Street address. When investigators arrived at the home, they discovered evidence that prompted them to secure a search warrant. Inside, they found a handgun and bloody clothing. Both Vidot and his mother were taken in for questioning, which ultimately led to their arrests. Vidot was charged with murder and other related offenses. His mother, Melonie Perez, was also charged for her role in attempting to cover up the crime. An 18-year-old woman, Samantha Rastella, was also arrested for failing to report the crime.
Xavier Vidot, despite being a juvenile at the time of the murder, was tried as an adult. During his trial, his defense argued that he acted to protect his mother from Loiseau. However, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. In April 2019, Xavier Vidot was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 24 years. His mother, Melonie Perez, pleaded guilty to failing to report a crime and received a six-month prison sentence for her involvement.
