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The Investigative Unit
Yesterday
WBR Sheriff: 'No stone unturned' in detention center drug deaths investigation
Posted 6:30 PM 9/9/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
PORT ALLEN — Following the suspected drug-related deaths of four inmates in the West Baton Rouge Detention Center this year, the Sheriff's Office is trying to determine how drugs keep getting inside the facility.
"We think it's high for a typical year," said Sheriff Jeff Bergeron (More)
9/8/2025
West Baton Rouge Parish Jail sees fourth inmate death this year
Posted 6:23 PM 9/8/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
PORT ALLEN — Smuggled-in drugs continue to cause serious problems in what is supposed to be a secure facility.
26-year-old Nicholas Henderson was found dead in his lockdown isolation cell Sunday at the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail. Henderson's is the fourth inmate death in the (More)
9/5/2025
THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Scotlandville High Principal placed on leave after student fight on campus
Posted 7:51 PM 9/5/2025 by WBRZ Staff
BATON ROUGE — Scotlandville Magnet High School Principal Paul Jackson, who has worked at the school for more than a decade, was put on administrative leave Friday after a fight at the school, sources told WBRZ.
The students involved in the fight are also being disciplined (More)
9/3/2025
THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Woman details concerning encounters with ex-BRPD officer awaiting sentencing
Posted 7:12 PM 9/3/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - A woman claims she was sexually assaulted by Donald Steele earlier this year.
WBRZ has agreed to conceal the woman's identity at her request and will refer to her as Savannah.
Savannah reached out to the WBRZ investigative unit to share her interaction with (More)
9/2/2025
White Castle Fire Chief accused of assaulting on-duty firefighter, police chief says
Posted 12:03 PM 9/4/2025 by Domenic Purdy
WHITE CASTLE — White Castle Fire Department Fire Chief John Marque allegedly battered one of the department's firefighters, White Castle Police Chief Harold Brooks said Tuesday.
Marque was issued a misdemeanor summons for the alleged attack on an on-duty firefighter, Brooks (More)
8/31/2025
Former BRPD chief talks police misconduct in anticipation of Steele sentencing
Posted 6:07 PM 8/31/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - In a little more than a week, former Baton Rouge police officer Donald Steele will be sentenced on a malfeasance in office conviction following a complicated, years-long legal process.
From the beginning, the case has been mired in controversy and judicial missteps that have (More)
8/26/2025
Smitty's: 'Almost all employees are being laid off', no severance package offered
Posted 5:45 PM 8/26/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
ROSELAND - A text message is how the majority of employees at Smitty's found out they no longer had jobs.
"Just a FYI as of friday the 22nd everyone has been laid off," the message sent Monday evening read.
The former employee who shared it with us says it came from her (More)
8/25/2025
Former Smitty's employee 'not surprised' by explosion
Posted 5:58 PM 8/25/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
ROSELAND — While the public waits for an explanation into what caused a massive explosion at Smitty's in Roseland, a former employee tells the WBRZ Investigative Unit it was only a matter of time.
The employee, whom we will refer to by her last name, 'Padilla,' worked as an (More)
8/18/2025
Few answers from DOC on botched inmate release
Posted 6:04 PM 8/18/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
VILLE PLATTE - The WBRZ Investigative Unit has been looking into how a recently released Elayn Hunt inmate ended up dead, four parishes away from where (More)
8/14/2025
Internal DOC emails give little insight on how inmate destined for group home ended up dead miles away
Posted 6:26 PM 8/14/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE — The family of Treylin Deville was told their loved one was being brought to a group home in Baton Rouge that could accommodate his mental (More)
8/13/2025
Inmate with mental health issues supposed to be released to BR group home found dead 80 miles away
Posted 6:08 PM 8/13/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
A man who was released from Elayn Hunt Correctional Center was found dead a day later, 80 miles from where he was supposed to be in Baton Rouge.
Treylin Deville's family had arranged with the prison to have him placed at a group home that was equipped to deal with his mental health issues (More)
8/12/2025
State suing Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association over organization's accounting
Posted 3:04 PM 8/12/2025 by WBRZ Staff
BATON ROUGE - The state of Louisiana is suing the Louisiana Oilfield Restoration Association over their accounting following a malfeasance investigation into how employees managed contractor money.
(More)...
8/11/2025
Family demanding answers in daughter's EBR jail death
Posted 7:13 PM 8/11/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE — The family of Maressa Mays wants answers as to what happened during a brief jail stint that ended in her death last month.
"We want justice, and no, she wasn't perfect, but we still want justice. That was our baby," her father said.
Throughout her adult (More)
