Tuesday, April 14

No Solid Leads in the Jeff Davis Serial Murders

Chaney Ferguson



In May of 2005 a young woman’s body was found dumped in a rural area in Jeff Davis Parish. More than three years later in November of 2008 a seventh body was found. Although only three are considered homicides, Jeff Davis Sheriff Ricky Edwards believes that even though they lack factual evidence all are somehow connected.

“I started believing after the second death that behaviorally there is some connection somewhere. We are working forensically to bring that to light and that might be coming shortly,” Edwards said.

The Victims
All seven bodies were found floating in canals or dumped on rural roadways in the parish. Their ages ranged from 29-17 years old. The names of the women are:
• Loretta Lynn Chaisson, 28, found May 20, 2005, in a canal.
• Ernestine Daniels Patterson, 29, found on June 17, 2005, in a canal six miles away.
• Kristen Gary Lopez, 21, found March 18, 2007, in a rural canal south of Welsh. Lopez was the seventh victim’s cousin.
• Whitnei Charlene Dubois, 26, found May 12, 2007, on a rural road just south of Jennings.
• Laconia Shontel “Muggy” Brown, 23, found May 12, 2008, on a rural road in Jennings.
• Crystal Shay Benoit Zeno, 23, found decomposed Sept. 11, 2008, off LaCour Road in rural Jeff Davis Parish.
• Brittney Ann Gary, 17, found decomposed Nov.15, 2008, half-mile south of La. 1126 on Keystone Road, about 3 miles from where the first remains were discovered in 2005.

Connection
According to Sheriff Edwards, the strongest connection in the deaths can be found in the relationship between the young women. They shared the same social circle, and were all in a “substance abuse lifestyle.”
Every victim’s autopsy revealed cocaine in her system. Each of the bodies were found either naked or missing certain items of clothing. Most, if not all, were not wearing shoes.
“We don’t have any factual evidence other than behavioral things that shows they are probably connected,” Edwards said.

Obstacles for Law Enforcement

The law enforcement officers face a huge hurdle with the lack of evidence left at the dump sites. “I have the body locations but not the actual locations of where they were picked up, seduced, or the actual kill site. We only have one third of that case at this point,” Edwards said.
A team is working daily on what the media calls the Jeff Davis Seven, he said. Officers are looking at each victim’s case individually and collectively. The FBI, state police, Calcasieu, Acadia Sheriff Departments, and the Attorney General’s office are all providing assistance.
Recently, America’s Most Wanted, the crime television show aired on Fox Saturday nights, took an interest in the case. Information on the victims and the individual cases can be found on the America’s Most Wanted website www.amw.com.

Edwards promises the public that he and his team will not stop until the person or persons responsible have been caught and brought to justice.
“Myself and the deputies take this personal,” Edwards said. “These ladies did not deserve that treatment. But we have a lot of unknowns out there. We have to go out and try to develop this information.”

Obstacles for the Families

While law enforcement faces one battle, the victim’s families face another. “We have a hard time getting people to be compassionate because of the situation,” shares Brittany Jones. “We want them to be labeled as women and not prostitutes or drug addicts.”
Jones’ sister Whitnei Dubois was the fourth victim. Since Dubois’ death Jones has been a dedicated advocate for all the victims. “I constantly interview people on my own. That’s my way of helping.”

In addition to asking her own questions, Jones is working with the other families to design t-shirts to promote awareness and help raise the reward money which is currently $35,000.

Jones says that designing the shirts is a way for the families to stay involved. “It’s difficult for the families since they’re in the middle of everything. Whenever another body is found or someone turns up missing, the families live it all over again. We’re trying, but it’s hard.”

“The last year of my sister’s life before she died was not who she was her entire life. That I believe is where we have had our biggest obstacle—for people to have the feelings for these girls they would have for anybody else,” Jones said.

Communication
Before the task force was created, law enforcement was criticized for not keeping the families informed. “There was about a year and a half where we didn’t have any information if we didn’t contact them. Since the task force, the particular detective assigned to my sister’s case has been working night and day on it” Jones said.
Sheriff Edwards implemented a new way to keep the families informed. “I have engaged a local pastor as a liaison and he has spoken with 4 of the 7 families so far. He will be the one to meet with them and bring their concerns to us.”

New Information

Before Gary’s body was found, two of the victim’s families hired a private investigator to help with the cases.
Recently, on the jdpkiller.wordpress.com blog, which is operated by a third party, the investigator posted a promise of protection. According to Jones, the private investigator posted on-line that if anybody had any information and was willing to come forward, his agency would provide 24 hour protection until the person is caught.

The Sheriff and Jones agree that people are out there who know what happened to the seven victims, but something is keeping them from coming forward. The private investigator and Jones are hoping the offer of protection will be incentive for new information.

The number of years and the number of bodies led to criticism of the law enforcement officers. “I understand that when there is an unknown, someone gets the blame and I am that someone,” said Sheriff Edwards, “I accept that responsibility because the case has not been solved.”

You Can Help

If you want to help raise awareness and money visit this blog at jdpkiller.wordpress.com for updates on the t-shirts for sale and other information. If you have any information about the victims call the Jeff Davis Sheriff’s department.

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