8-23-23
A LAKE CHARLES MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING A SEVENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD WOMAN AND DRIVING AROUND IN THE VICTIM’S VEHICLE WITH THE BODY FOR A MONTH. CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO SAYS HIS OFFICE HAS NEVER SEEN A CASE LIKE THIS. ON MONDAY, DETECTIVES FOUND THE BODY OF SHEILA ORTEGA IN HER VEHICLE IN A MALL PARKING LOT. UPON QUESTIONING, FORTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER T. CATER OF LAKE CHARLES, WHO WAS AN AQUAINTANCE OF ORTEGA, ADMITTED KILLING HER AND USING HER INFORMATION TO OPEN SEVERAL LOANS AFTER HER DEATH.
IN IBERIA PARISH, BNSF PERSONNEL ARE STILL WORKING TO CLEAN UP HIGHWAY ONE EIGHTY-TWO AFTER A TRAIN STRUCK AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER, DERAILING IT IN THE PROCESS. DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.
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ATTORNEYS ARE REVIEWING THE FIRING OF LAFAYETTE LIBRARY DIRECTOR DANNY GILLANE, ACCORDING TO BOARD OF CONTROL VICE PRESIDENT JAMES THOMAS. THOMAS, WHO DIDN’T ATTEND MONDAY’S MEETING, SAYS IT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE THE ANNUAL EVALUATION, NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT HE WOULD BE FIRED. THOMAS SAYS HE WAS BLINDSIDED AND SHOCKED AS HE AND TWO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS WERE NOT PRESENT. KLFY TV REPORTED AN UNCONFIRMED THEORY THAT GILLANE WAS FIRED OVER A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT WHETHER A NEW LIBRARY SHOULD BE BUILT ON THE NORTHSIDE.
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAS UPDATED THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HEAT-RELATED DEATHS. DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS THE DETAILS.
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ANOTHER PETITION HAS BEEN STARTED TO RECALL ELTON MAYOR KESIA LEMOINE. THE PETITION WAS FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE YESTERDAY. THE ORGANIZERS HAVE THREE MONTHS TO COLLECT SIGNATURES FROM FORTY PERCENT OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN ELTON. THE FIRST PETITION FAILED BECAUSE ONLY ONE OF THE SIGNATURES WAS PROPERLY WITNESSED.
CASA SAINT LANDRY IS BEING FORCED TO RELOCATE TO A NEW INCOMPLETE FACILITY ON BELLVUE STREET IN OPELOUSAS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MADELYN ROSETTE SAYS THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH SERVES AS A VOICE FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, HAS BEEN AT THEIR MAIN STREET LOCATION FOR OVER A DECADE, BUT THEY WERE FORCED OUT WHEN THE LANDLORD SOLD THE BUILDING. THE MOVE-IN DATE AT THEIR NEW LOCATION IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY AND ROSETTE SAYS DONATIONS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE THE MOVE POSSIBLE. SHE SAYS THE DONATIONS CAN BE MONEY OR A HELPING HAND.
A FORMER TEACHER AND COACH AT SAINT THOMAS MORE HIGH SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE ENTERED NOT GUILTY PLEAS YESTERDAY IN COURT TO CHILD EXPLOITATION CHARGES. A GRAND JURY LAST WEEK INDICTED ANGEL RAFAEL CARDONA FOR ATTEMPTING TO CREATE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN JULY AND FOR USING A FACILITY IN JUNE TO ENTICE A CHILD TO ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY. THE JUDGE IN THE CASE SAYS CARDONA FACES BETWEEN FIFTEEN AND THIRTY YEARS IN PRISON IF CONVICTED ON THE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASES AND BETWEEN TEN YEARS AND LIFE ON THE ENTICEMENT CHARGE. THE JUDGE WILL HOLD A TELEPHONE CONFERENCE WITH ATTORNEYS TO DECIDE THE SCHEDULE FOR THE CASE.
A MAN, WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE A PICKUP TRUCK FROM NORTH DAKOTA, CONFESSED TO BURNING IT ON GREENWOOD ROAD IN MAMOU ON JUNE THIRTIETH. TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD CHANCE TRAVELER STANDRIDGE WAS ARRESTED NEAR MAMOU FOR NORTH DAKOTA PROBATION AND PAROLE. WHILE IN THE EVANGELINE PARISH JAIL, HE ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED TO BURNING THE TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN FORD F-ONE-FIFTY PICKUP, WHICH, AUTHORITIES SAY, HE STOLE ALONG WITH AN ACCOMPLICE. STANDRIDGE FACES ONE COUNT OF SIMPLE ARSON AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
