Staff report
A well-known Brandon chef and restaurateur is recovering after being stabbed Saturday afternoon at his restaurant, Café Provence, in what authorities are calling an attempted murder.
According to the state police, Robert Barral, 71 of Brandon, was attacked at approximately 4:30 p.m. on April 5 by a former employee, Jozef I. Eller, 32 of Granville.
Barral was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center and later transferred to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where his condition was listed as stable late Saturday.
Following the assault, Eller fled the scene in a white 2017 Ford F-150 with Vermont license plates. Authorities launched a manhunt and warned the public not to approach Eller, describing him as “extremely dangerous.”
By 10:10 p.m. Saturday, state police located and arrested Eller in Rochester without incident.
Eller plead not guilty in Windham County criminal court to charges of second degree murder and violating a no-tresspassing order. The judge kept the order to holding Eller without bail.
State police say Eller had been previously ordered not to return to the premises. The motive for the attack has not been released. Further details are expected to be included in a court affidavit that will become public following the arraignment.
The Musicians in Schools performances at Rutland schools on April 18, which were expected to include a former colleague of Eller’s, remain unaffected by the incident.
Anyone with further information about the case is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police Rutland Barracks at 802-773-9101 or submit tips anonymously at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
