The Disappearance and Murder of Erica Hunt

Erica Hunt vanished at the age of 20 on July 4th, 2016. The previous day, Erica attended an Independence Day celebration at her family’s home in Opelousas, Louisiana. The above photograph is from said celebration; this is one the last known images of Erica before her disappearance. 

Family members said Erica was acting normally at the celebration—she talked about applying for housing and seemed excited about her upcoming 21st birthday. They never predicted that this would be one of the last times they'd see Erica.

The morning before she vanished, Erica visited her sister and brother-in-law’s house and asked for money to buy cigarettes. It is unknown if she left their home on foot or if somebody picked her up. Erica was later seen behind a local restaurant on Hirsch Alley sometime between 11:00 PM and 1:00 PM. After that, she was never seen or heard from again.

Investigators immediately deemed Erica's disappearance as suspicious. It was not believed that she voluntarily missing—she left a two-year-old daughter behind, which was very uncharacteristic of her. Erica’s family searched for her to no avail. Unfortunately, her case quickly went cold.

Two years later, in 2018, authorities were searching for a missing boy in Evangeline Parish when another set of human remains were found. It took years to identify the remains, but on February 5th, 2021, the Louisiana State Police announced that the remains were that of Erica Hunt. They also announced that her death was a homicide.

Over three years passed without any updates in Erica's case. Then, in November 2024, a major break occurred. On November 21st, 2024, it was announced that investigators had arrested Jordan Barnes and charged him with Erica's murder. Barnes is Erica's brother-in-law; the same brother-in-law whose house she visited the day of her disappearance. 

Barnes reportedly confessed to the crime and has been charged with second-degree murder. The case is currently pending. 

-
Sources:
Charley Project
Louisiana State Police
NBC News
Uncovered

The Disappearance of Le-Thuy 'Cathy' Tran

Source: NamUs

Le-Thuy 'Cathy' Tran has been missing since January 31st, 2012. The then-45-year-old was last seen at her home in Harvey, Louisiana. Cathy's landlord said that she last saw Cathy when she paid her rent at her apartment complex's management office. The landlord later called police after she noticed Cathy had seemingly vanished after making that payment.

Very little information is known about the circumstances surrounding Cathy's disappearance. According to certain reports, Cathy had spent time gambling in Biloxi, Mississippi prior to her disappearance. She reportedly returned to her home in Louisiana on January 15th, 2012. It's unclear if this is connected to her disappearance; further information about her time in Biloxi is unknown. 

A local New Orleans news report about Cathy's disappearance was published on February 29th, 2012. The report states that, during that time, detectives were unable to get in touch with Cathy's family or friends. Several years have passed since then, so it's unknown if this is still true. There have been no further updates about Cathy's case.

Cathy was known to drive a light gray 2009 Toyota Camry with the California license plate number 6DXT129 at the time of her disappearance. The car has also not been seen since she vanished. 

If you have any information that could help solve Cathy's disappearance, please contact the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office 504-364-5300.

-
Sources:
Charley Project
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
NamUs
WDSU

The Disappearance of KaRhonda Walker Stringfellow

Source: Ruston/Lincoln Crimestoppers

KaRhonda Walker Stringfellow has been missing since November 11th, 2004. The then-21-year-old was last seen in Dubach, Louisiana, at an apartment complex called the Dubach Apartments. She has never been seen or heard from again.

Details about the events surrounding KaRhonda's disappearance are scarce. There are also very few details available about KaRhonda herself. What is known is that she was a well-rounded individual prior to going missing. She was involved in student government while she was a student at Dubach High School. KaRhonda also graduated at the top of her class in 2001.

About a year after graduating, KaRhonda gave birth to a baby boy named Kamron - who unfortunately passed away during infancy. It appears that KaRhonda married Kamron's father - Dion Stringfellow - at some point afterwards. Kamron's obituary lists his mother as KaRhonda Walker, but by the time she vanished, her name was listed as KaRhonda Stringfellow.

KaRhonda vanished approximately two years after her son's death. Other than that, there is very little information about her case. No suspects or persons of interest have ever been publicly identified - though various reports state that foul play is suspected.

Anyone with information that could help solved KaRhonda's case is encouraged to contact Ruston/Lincoln Crimestoppers at 318-255-1111 or submit a tip online. 

-
Sources:
Charley Project
Ruston/Lincoln Crimestoppers
Uncovered

The Disappearance of LaKisha Taylor

 

LaKisha Taylor has been missing since June 13th, 2008. The then-27-year-old woman was last seen at the residence she shared with her cousin Sandy Stevenson in Lake Charles, Louisiana. On the morning of LaKisha's disappearance, Sandy went out for breakfast, while LaKisha stayed behind. When Sandy returned, LaKisha was gone. She has never been seen or heard from again.

There are many suspicious circumstances surrounding LaKisha's disappearance. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle at the home. Additionally, it appeared as if LaKisha vanished while in the midst of getting ready for her day. Her freshly ironed clothes were found lying on her bed; the clothes iron was still on and hot. LaKisha's bathtub was also full of water, as if she planned to take a bath. Her personal items - including her wallet, identification, cell phone, and cash were all left behind. 

Foul play has been suspected in LaKisha's disappearance since the onset of the investigation. At one point, her estranged husband was labeled a person of interest, but he has never been arrested or charged with anything related to her disappearance. Years have passed without any real updates in LaKisha's case.

LaKisha remains missing today. Cold case detectives are investigating her case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact the Lake Charles Police Department at 337-491-1311.

-
Sources:
7 KPLC, (2)
Charley Project

The Murder of Trayvel Aites

 

Trayvel Aites was found murdered outside his family's house on March 14th, 2014. The 19-year-old had been living with his father and stepmother at their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the time of his death. It was Trayvel's father who found his body in their backyard that tragic afternoon. He had been shot twice in the back. 

Reports state that Trayvel had been missing for about a week prior to being found shot to death. His family held out hope that he'd return safely, but those hopes were crushed on the afternoon of March 14th. Trayvel's father returned home from work that day and felt compelled to check his backyard. It was then that he discovered his son's lifeless body just below the home's master bedroom window. 

Various rumors indicate that Trayvel was seen and/or heard talking to someone on the corner near his home on the day of his murder. Two or three minutes later, that person began shooting, and Trayvel began to run. Trayvel was struck twice in the back but was still able to make it back to his family's backyard. Once there, he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

In June 2015, it was reported that investigators believe that Trayvel knew the shooter, and that others in the neighborhood witnessed the shooter as well. A public appeal was made for anyone with information to come forward. Still, over a decade has passed since Trayvel's murder, and the case remains unsolved.

Trayvel's family lived in their Baton Rouge residence for 15 years before his murder; Trayvel basically grew up in the home. The family's once-happy memories of the home have been tarnished by Trayvel's killing, and they have since relocated. However, justice for Trayvel is still being sought.

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest and/or conviction of Trayvel's killer(s), please contact the Baton Rouge Homicide Division at 225-389-4869.

-
Sources:
CBS 9
Uncovered

The Murder of Shantell Pollard

source: Front Page Detectives

Shantell Pollard was only 19 years-old when she died after being shot on October 31st, 2017. The teenage girl planned to celebrate Halloween that evening with friends on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Unfortunately, Shantell never made it to the celebration. 

Shantell's friends picked her up from her family's home in Thibodaux around 10:00 PM on the evening of the shooting. Their plan was to make the hour-long drive to New Orleans, but first they needed to drop Shantell's friend's children off at a home in a nearby Marydale neighborhood. It was in that neighborhood where Shantell was fatally shot in the head. 

According to reports, police were called to Park Avenue around 10:35 PM. Once officers arrived on the scene, they found Shantell unresponsive in the front seat of an SUV. It was clear that she had been shot, and she was subsequently transported to a local hospital. Shantell succumbed to her gunshot injuries days later, on November 3rd, 2017. 

No arrests have ever been made in Shantell's case, nor have any suspects been publicly announced. A motive for her murder remains unknown. Shantell's family members are inevitably devastated by her death, and they hope to one day receive justice. 

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest of Shantell's killer(s), please contact Crime Stoppers Bayou Region at 1-800-743-7433 or submit a tip online.

-
Sources:
Front Page Detectives
Houma Today
Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office
Project: Cold Case

The Murder of Giggie Blount

image source: uncovered.com

 

During the early-morning hours of September 11th, 2017, police in New Orleans were called about a disturbance at a parking lot in Central City. Upon their arrival, they found a woman who had been shot in the back. That woman was later identified as 35-year-old Giggie Blount. EMTs rushed Giggie to the hospital, but she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.

As police investigated the incident that left Giggie dead, they learned that she had been in an argument with either one or multiple people before she was shot. It appears that the identify of said person(s) remains unknown at this time. Giggie's family members said that they have heard many rumors about what happened the morning she was killed, but nothing has been confirmed. 

Giggie was a mother of 7 and the oldest of 8 siblings. She left behind numerous loved ones who are now searching for answers. Police are reportedly still searching for both a motive and a suspect in the case. If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
-

Sources:
NOLA
Uncovered

The Murder of Shamia Little

 

Shamia Little was only 17 years-old when she was tragically murdered during July 2021. The teen lived in Shreveport, Louisiana at the time of her death. Those who knew Shamia describe her as a sweet and quiet young girl. She was also a model student. Shamia was due to begin her senior year of high school during the fall of 2021, and she had a bright future ahead of her. Unfortunately, that future was taken from both Shamia and her loved ones. 

Shamia was last seen alive on the night of July 6th, 2021. That evening, she went to Douglas Williams Park with an 18- or 19-year- old male friend. According to said friend, an unknown man approached him and Shamia around 11:00 PM. The man reportedly pointed a gun at them, took their cell phones, and then led them into a nearby wooded area. At some point, Shamia's friend was able to run away. He then flagged down a police officer parked nearby on Greenwood Road. By this point, Shamia and the gunman were nowhere to be found. 

Six days later, Shamia's body was found behind a business in the 4100 block of Curtis Lane. She had been shot to death. Investigators are still searching for Shamia's killer, and the FBI is involved in the case. The friend who was with Shamia the night she was reportedly abducted was questioned at length and has not been identified as a suspect. Shortly after Shamia's body was identified, it was reported that police had at least one suspect - but to this day no arrests have been made. 

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for anyone with information that could lead to Shamia's killer(s). If you have any information that could help the investigation, please submit a tip. 

-
Sources:
Click 2 Houston
KSLA, 2
Websleuths

The Murder of Taylore Jones

 

Taylore Jones was murdered inside her New Orleans, Louisiana home during the early morning hours of December 21st, 2021. The 26-year-old woman was living in an apartment in the Bywater neighborhood at the time of her death. The New Orleans Police Department responded to a call shortly after 5:00 AM about a woman who had been stabbed in the 700 Block of Lesseps Street. When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Taylore suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was transported to a nearby hospital, where she passed shortly thereafter.

Taylore had lived in New Orleans for less than a year before her untimely death. She moved there in March 2021. According to friends, Taylore was attracted to the music scene in New Orleans. She also loved being able to travel around town on her skateboard. In fact, just hours before she was killed, Taylore was seen riding her skateboard home from her job at Café Negril.

 A few months after Taylore’s murder, police released surveillance footage of the potential suspect. In the footage, a person wearing all black is seen walking towards Taylore’s apartment. Around 30 minutes later, the same individual is seen running away from the apartment. Police believe Taylore was killed within that 30-minute window.

 

A motive for Taylore’s murder is unclear. Reports state that nothing was stolen from Taylore’s apartment, so a robbery has been ruled out. Police have yet to identify the person in the surveillance footage, and they are hoping that somebody from the public will recognize this individual. Detectives note that the person appeared to have a distinct belt buckle and keychain that is visible in the footage.

There is a monetary reward available for any information that could lead to the arrest of Taylore’s killer. If you recognize the person in the footage, or if you have any other information that could help the investigation, please contact the NOPD at (504) 658-6020.

-
Sources:
Crimestoppers GNO
Fox 8 Live
NOLA
WWLTV

The Disappearance of Giang Phan

 

Giang Phan has been missing since April 8th, 2011.  He was 33 years old at the time of his disappearance, and he lived in Dallas, Texas. However, at the time of his disappearance, Giang was in Louisiana on a business trip. He was working for a company that sold herbal supplements to fitness centers.

Giang was last seen in New Orleans around 1:30 PM. He had met an old friend for lunch at a Mexican restaurant about an hour earlier and was last seen as he was leaving the restaurant. Giang planned to meet his business partner in Golden Meadow around 3:30 PM, but he never showed up. Around 4 PM, Giang's parent sent him a text message to ask where he was. Giang replied that he was running late but would be in Golden Meadow after he finished doing business in New Orleans. This was the last time anyone had contact with Giang, and he has never been seen or heard from again.

The car that Giang was driving disappeared with him, along with many of his personal belongings.  The vehicle is described as a 2009 silver Chevy Malibu. Giang's wallet, iPhone, and laptop were in his possession. The car and all of the items remain missing as well. 

Detectives in Golden Meadow are investigating Giang's case. If you have any information that could lead to his whereabouts, please call 985-475-5213.

-

Sources: [one, two]

The Disappearance of Crystal Grebinger

Crystal Grebinger has been missing since February 8th, 2013. 

The then-32-year-old woman vanished just weeks after filing for divorce from her husband Sean Grebinger. Crystal and Sean had been married for sixteen years and they lived in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. However, at the time of her disappearance, Crystal was living at a shelter for abused women.

Sean was reportedly abusive towards Crystal throughout their marriage. In fact, in November 2012, Crystal obtained a protective order to keep Sean away from both her and her four children. He reportedly violated that order on more than one occasion. On January 14th, 2013, Crystal finally filed for divorce.

Crystal was last seen on February 8th at the women's shelter. She left the shelter that afternoon and never returned. Crystal had several child custody hearings scheduled over the following weeks, but she did not show up to any of them. Her children were living with relatives at the time, but Crystal was hoping to gain full custody of them. Knowing that Crystal would not voluntarily miss those hearings, her worried family members reported her missing on February 18th. 

Sean was identified as a person of interest in Crystal's disappearance very early into the investigation. Unfortunately, though, investigators were unable to locate him. He reportedly dropped out of sight just two days after Crystal was last seen, and years passed without any knowledge of his whereabouts.

Eventually, it was learned that Sean had moved to Brazil. He reportedly obtained residency there after falsely claiming that he was an American Special Forces agent facing political persecution in the United States. Sean eventually married a Brazilian resident as well. He would occasionally answer questions about Crystal's case on his Facebook page, but he repeatedly denied involvement in her disappearance.

On January 31st, 2020, Sean was arrested in Brazil after assaulting his wife. He was released on a provisional without bail, but at that point, investigators in the United States learned about his location. In February 2020, it was announced that Sean would be extradited to the United States to face murder charges in Crystal's disappearance.

source: KATC

He was arrested again and held in a Brazilian jail as he awaited extradition. Days later, Sean was found hanged in his jail cell. His death was ruled a suicide. Sean left behind notes to his family and friends, but he did not reveal any information about Crystal's whereabouts. 

Crystal remains missing today. The only trace of her that has been found is a shoe that she was believed to have been wearing on the day of her disappearance. Said shoe was found near Lake Fausse Pointe, a swamp park area approximately 20 miles away from Lafayette. It is believed that Crystal was murdered by Sean, but unfortunately authorities were never able to formally charge him.

If you have any information that could lead to Crystal's whereabouts, please go here to submit an anonymous tip.

-
Sources:
The Advocate
Charley Project
KLFY, (2)

The Disappearance of Nahendra Davis

Nahendra Davis has been missing since December 27th, 2018. She vanished on her 35th birthday, and she was last seen near her mother's home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Nahendra dropped off her two children at her mother's house around 4:45pm that day and never returned. Her car was later found abandoned near the corner of Scenic Highway and 72nd Avenue in Baton Rouge. Nahendra's purse, cash, and keys were found inside the vehicle.

Both Baton Rouge and Baker police have worked to locate Nahendra. Her car was processed, and it reportedly did not reveal and clues pointing to her whereabouts. Authorities have also stated that they do not have any concrete evidence of foul play at this time. However, Nahendra's family members believe otherwise. Her relatives do not believe she would abandon her children or voluntarily stay out of touch for this long. 

The Baker Police Department is currently investigating Nahendra's case. If you have any information that could help locate her, please contact authorities at (225) 775-6000.

-
Sources:
Charley Project
The Criminal Journal
WBRZ 2

The Disappearance of Keshia Sylvester

Keshia Sylvester (29) has been missing since October 2nd, 2017. She was last seen at a residence in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Keshia was expected to show up to her daughter’s school homecoming; an event she had been looking forward to for weeks. She planned to do her daughter’s hair for the event, but she never arrived.

After this, Keshia’s loved ones contacted her employer, who told them that Keshia had been let go from her job but had never come by to pick up her last paycheck. All of this was quite uncharacteristic of Keshia, and as a result her worried family members reported her missing.

A man named Randal Rodriguez has been named as a person of interest in Keshia’s case. Keshia worked as a chef for Rodriguez in the months leading up to her disappearance. Over a year after her disappearance, St. Martin Parish Police searched his home. It is unclear if anything was found, and Rodriguez continues to maintain his innocence. 

Additionally, Keshia’s family members do not believe that Rodriguez is responsible for Keshia’s disappearance. However, they do believe that foul play was involved, and they are desperately hoping for answers.

If you have any information that could help the investigation, please contact authorities at (337) 394-2226.

-
Source:
CBS 42
Charley Project
KFLY

The Disappearance of Stacy Baham

Stacy Baham (33) was last seen in Holden, Louisiana on August 11th, 2015. That day, Stacy left her child at a friend’s house and then never returned. Said friend contacted Stacy’s father nearly a week later, who subsequently reported her missing on August 17th.

Throughout the investigation, authorities learned that Stacy had recently broken up with her boyfriend and had taken his vehicle with her when she vanished. The vehicle was later found abandoned and out of gas off LA-22 in Maurepas on August 29th, 2015. 

It was later revealed that a witness had seen Stacy driving the car in Maurepas weeks earlier on August 12th—a day after she vanished. Authorities believe she ran out of gas around 5am that morning.  What happened to Stacy after that remains a mystery; she hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

Prior to vanishing, Stacy worked as a home health care nurse. She had also been taking classes online via Colorado Technical University. Police are appealing to the public for any information on Stacy’s whereabouts. If you have any information that could help, please contact the Livingston Parrish Sheriff’s Department at (225) 686-2241.

-

Sources:
Charley Project
Livingston Parrish Sherrif's Department
Uncovered

The Disappearance of Keiosha Felix

Keiosha Felix was only 15 years-old when she vanished on April 30th, 2012. At the time of her disappearance, Keiosha had an infant child, and the mother and daughter were living together in a group home for teenage girls who are pregnant or have young children. She was living there because her mother was in prison, which left her in the custody of the state of Louisiana. 

The weekend before she vanished, Keiosha got a weekend pass to visit her paternal aunt Patricia Andrus. She was last seen leaving Patricia’s Duson, Louisiana home. She has never been seen or heard from again.

Keiosha was initially classified as a runaway. She had run away once in the past, but she was back after two days. Additionally, Patricia’s daughter/Keiosha’s cousin Portia Felix claimed to have heard from Keiosha after April 30th, and that Keiosha said she was “just fine”. 

However, many relatives on Keiosha’s mother’s side of the family believed otherwise. Those relatives stated that Keiosha would not leave her one-year-old daughter behind. Keiosha was also a frequent social media user, yet she had not accessed any of her social media accounts since the day she was last seen.

Three months later, Keiosha was reclassified as an endangered missing person. Throughout the investigation, the Duson Police Department learned more information about Keiosha’s relationship with her aunt Patricia and Patricia’s boyfriend, Leon Wilkerson Jr. Prior to her disappearance, Keiosha allegedly told Patricia that Leon had sexually assaulted her. Patricia never reported this to the authorities, nor did she tell investigators about it after Keiosha went missing. 

In July 2012, Leon was arrested and charged with rape and second-degree kidnapping in connection with Keiosha’s disappearance. Patricia was arrested and charged with improper supervision of a minor and accessory to rape. Keiosha’s cousin Portia, who told investigators that she heard from Keiosha after her disappearance, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice.

Leon Wilkerson Jr, Patricia Andrus, and Portia Felix

Leon, Patricia and Portia all denied the charges brought against them. Patricia admitted that Keiosha did, in fact, tell her that Leon sexually assaulted her. Patricia stated that she confronted Leon about it, and he denied it. She believed him, so she never reported it to DCF.

Duson PD continued to pursue charges against the three of them and in August 2012, Leon’s brother Ronald Wilkerson was also arrested and charged with kidnapping in connection with Keiosha’s case. It seemed that investigators were closer to getting their answers about what happened to Keiosha. Then, the following month, the investigation took an unexpected turn.

Lead investigator removed from the case; charges dropped.

In September 2012, Duson PD’s Assistant Chief of Police, Lt. Gerald Credeur, was removed from the investigation and suspended from duty. Lt. Credeur had been left in charge of handling Keiosha’s case, but in September 2012 the Chief of Police Frank Andrew told the Duson Board of Aldermen that Credeur had improperly handled the case. 

Chief Andrew explained that Credeur had illegally arrested two people for kidnapping, given false testimony and made an illegal search and seizure during the investigation. The Board of Alderman determined that Credeur did, in fact, make the searches and the arrests without probable cause and he was fired the following month. The charges against Leon and Ronald Wilkerson were dropped.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation. In April 2013, it was announced that the charges against Patricia and Portia had been dropped as well. The district attorney stated that the evidence against all four individuals was all “unsubstantiated hearsay”. 

Another potential lead.

It was later reported that turned their attention to an unidentified man who was spotted in an AT&T store in Lafayette, Louisiana shortly after Keiosha’s disappearance. The man purchased a SIM card at the store, and said card was later used with Keiosha’s password. Investigators stated that this man is not a suspect, but they believe he may have information about Keiosha’s disappearance. 

source: Charley Project

Where the case stands.

Years have passed, and Keiosha remains missing. Theories about what happened to her remain mostly divided. Some believe that Keiosha did, in fact, run away, and that the man in the surveillance images may have known something about it. Others believe that Leon and Patricia are responsible for Keiosha’s disappearance, and that they are free only because the police botched the investigation.

Investigators have acknowledged these accusations; however, they have stated that they are currently focusing on finding Keiosha rather than filing criminal charges against anyone in her disappearance. The FBI is now involved in the case. If you have any information that could help solve Keiosha’s disappearance, please report it here.

-
Sources:
The Advertiser
Charley Project
FBI
WAFB

The Disappearance of Cynthia Orsborn

23 year-old Cynthia Orsborn has been missing since June 14th, 2017. She was last seen at a house in Calvin, Louisiana that she had rented with her boyfriend, Jack “JD” Noble (41). JD told Cynthia’s family members that on the day she went missing, Cynthia got into a car with an unidentified driver and simply rode off. She had never been seen or heard from again.

Both authorities and Cynthia’s family members have doubted JD’s story from the beginning. Cynthia left behind two children, which is uncharacteristic of her. Additionally, JD has a long criminal history dating back to 1997, and many of his crimes involve violence against women. In 2014, JD was charged with rape, assault, and false imprisonment after he attacked a previous girlfriend. Unfortunately, those charges were eventually dropped after the victim never showed up for the trial.

JD and Cynthia began dating the following year, and their relationship had their fair share of issues as well. In November 2016, Cynthia filed an order of protection against JD after multiple reports of domestic disturbances between the two of them. However, the two reconciled a few months later and ended up moving in together while the restraining order was still in effect. 10 days after Cynthia’s disappearance, JD was arrested for violating the protective order. Still, JD has never been charged with anything related to Cynthia’s disappearance—but he remains the only person of interest to this day. Authorities are hoping to get in contact with the victim of the 2014 assault so they can pursue those charges against JD as well.

Cynthia is unfortunately not the only member of her family to go missing. In 2006, Cynthia’s father Michael Orsborn vanished from Provencal, Louisiana and he remains missing today. His car and wallet were located after his disappearance, just a mile away from where he lived. That was the last known trace of him, and he has not been seen or heard from again. There is no indication that Cynthia’s disappearance is related to her father’s disappearance, but their family members are hoping to eventually gain closure in both cases.

After experiencing a lack of updates in Michael’s case, Cynthia’s family is hoping to hire a private investigator to help them with Cynthia’s disappearance in order to keep her case active. Family members have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for the private investigator. If you would like to donate, please go here.  Additionally, if you have any information that could lead to Cynthia’s whereabouts, please contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-352-6432.

--

[Small Town Mysteries Vol. II]

The Disappearance and Murder of Michaela "Mickey" Shunick

Mickey Shunick was only 22 years-old when she vanished during the early-morning hours of May 19th, 2012. She spent the evening of May 18th attending a concert with friends at a venue called the Artmosphere in Lafayette, Louisiana. Afterwards, Mickey rode her bike back to a friend’s residence on Ryan Street.

Then, around 1:45 AM, Mickey began to ride her bike back towards her family’s home. She had plans to attend a sibling’s graduation ceremony the following morning. Unfortunately, Mickey never made it home. After being unable to get ahold of her, Mickey’s parents reported her missing around 5:00 PM that evening. 

Throughout the investigation, detectives obtained surveillance footage from cameras of businesses along Mickey’s route home. Around 1:48 AM on the morning of May 19th, Mickey was captured riding her bike on St. Landry Street. A white truck was also spotted driving in the camera’s frame as well. From that point forward, police worked to identify the owner of said truck, and they released surveillance images of both Mickey and the truck from the morning of her disappearance in hopes that somebody from the public would recognize it. 

Then, on May 26th, 2012, Mickey’s bike was found by a fisherman under Whiskey Bay Bridge. The bike had damage on it that was consistent with being hit by a vehicle. Days later, the Lafayette police received a tip about a white truck that was found burned out in Jacinto County, Texas. Police went to investigate the truck and determined that it was likely the same truck seen in the surveillance video from the night of Mickey’s disappearance.

Identifying the truck owner. 

Police eventually identified the owner of the truck: a then-33-year-old registered sex offender named Brandon Scott Lavergne. At that point, Lavergne became the prime suspect in Mickey's disappearance. Still, it would take investigators months to piece together what happened to Mickey on the night she vanished.

Brandon Scott Lavergne. (source: cajunradio.com)

Several charges for Lavergne. 

By July 2012, Lavergne no longer had the truck in his possession. Meanwhile, Mickey remained missing and numerous volunteer searches for her were fruitless. Then, on July 5th, 2012, police obtained a warrant for Lavergne's arrest for failing to re-register as a sex offender. Once they apprehended him, they also charged him with kidnapping and murdering Mickey - despite the fact that Mickey had not yet been found. 

Lavergne initially did not cooperate with investigators following his arrest. Still, investigators were also able to identify him as the prime suspect in another case: the 1999 murder of Lisa Pate. 

Lisa Pate. (source: cajunradio.com)

At his court appearance on July 18th, 2012, Lavergne was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder - for both Lisa and Mickey, respectively. He pleaded not guilty to both murder charges. 

Finding Mickey.

As Lavergne remained behind bars, the search for Mickey continued. On August 7th, 2012, investigators received a tip that led them to a section of property off of Louisiana Highway 10 in Evangeline Parish. Police shared that they were headed to said location, but they did not specify the tip that led them to such location. 

When they arrived on the scene, they found a location of a body that had been buried. It was immediately believed that they had found Mickey. Two days later, records confirmed that the body was, in fact, that of Mickey Shunick.

Lavergne accepts a plea deal.

Lavergne's next court date was just ten days after the discovery of Mickey's remains. Prosecutors originally planned to seek the death penalty against him. However, on August 17th, 2012, Lavergne decided to plead guilty to both murders in exchange for a sentence of life in prison without parole.

source: ksla.com

The truth about what happened to Mickey.

At the sentencing, it was revealed that Mickey fought for her life after being kidnapped by Lavergne. Prosecutors stated that they believed Lavergne intentionally his Mickey's bike with his truck that morning in order to get her to accept a ride from him. Once inside the truck, Mickey realized she was in danger. When she reached for her cell phone to call for help, Lavergne threatened her with a knife. 

Mickey then sprayed Lavergne in the face with mace, but he was eventually able to wrestle it away from her. Mickey grabbed Lavergne's knife and began to stab him, giving him wounds that were later referred to as life-threatening. Despite this, Lavergne was able to wrestle the knife away from Mickey. Once he had control of it, he stabbed Mickey four times, causing her to collapse. 

Thinking she was deceased, Lavergne started to drive to a secluded area approximately 40 miles away, where he planned to dump her body. However, during the drive, Mickey unexpectedly shot up and lunged at Lavergne with his knife, stabbing him in the chest. At that point, Lavergne pulled out his semi-automatic handgun and shot Mickey in the head, killing her instantly. 

Afterwards, Lavergne drove with Mickey's body in his truck to a friend's house, where he tended to his wounds. He later dumped Mickey's body in Evangeline Parish. Lavergne spent the following days destroying evidence of the crime.

It's believed that the injuries Mickey left on Lavergne ultimately led to him being the prime suspect in the case. In a statement to The Advocate, Mickey's sister wrote, "my sister, Mickey Shunick, was a warrior. If it wasn't for her, our community never would have been able to bring down a dangerous man that harmed multiple people."

-
Sources:
ABC News, (2)
Cajun Radio
KSLA

New Haven Register

The Disappearance of Tameka Anderson

Tameka Anderson, age 25

Tameka Anderson (25) has been missing since February 23rd, 2010. The mother-of-two was last seen in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the Telco Federal Credit Union. Tameka went there to withdraw money from the ATM, which she planned to use to buy a car. 

After leaving the credit union, Tameka called multiple family members to tell them that she was headed to Galvez, Louisiana with an acquaintance to buy the vehicle. The car was never purchased, and Tameka never returned home. She has never been seen or heard from again.

The acquaintance Tameka was with that day has not been publicly identified. It appears that Tameka’s family is unaware of that person’s identity. However, they do believe that this person had something to do with Tameka’s disappearance. In fact, Tameka’s aunt told reporters that she does not believe the acquaintance had any intentions of helping Tameka buy a car. 

The aunt explained, “I believe it was a setup. They knew she got her income tax. She told them how much money she had.” Still, investigators stated that they were unable to find any evidence of foul play and news about Tameka’s case seemed to fade as the months and the years passed.

Over time, Tameka’s family members grew frustrated with the lack of support from their community. Tameka’s brother believes that people in their community are sticking to “street code”, which means they refrain from speaking up or getting involved in the bad things they witness. Tameka’s brother attributes this to the rate of unsolved crimes in the Baton Rouge area. 

All of Tameka’s family members believe that someone has more information about Tameka’s disappearance that they are not sharing. Tameka’s aunt told reporters, “Someone saw something that morning. Someone saw Tameka get into a car as she left her house that morning. But nobody is talking.”

Tameka’s family members remain resilient in their search for Tameka. As part of their efforts, they are hoping to end the silence in their community as well. Tameka’s uncle stated, “With the silence in the communities, the abductions, shootings and robberies, we’ll never have a better community if we don’t communicate with each other.” For more information on this important issue, please visit this resource. 

Additionally, if you have any information about Tameka Anderson’s whereabouts, please contact the Baton Rouge Police Department at 914-737-7171.
-
Sources:
Charley Project
WAFB