Jeff Davis 8

Timeline

May 17, 2005: Loretta Lynn Chaisson Lewis, 28, is last seen.
■ May 20, 2005: Lewis’ body is found in the Grand Marais drainage canal just west of Jennings.
■ June 16, 2005: Ernestine Marie Daniels Patterson, 30, is last seen.
■ June 18, 2005: Patterson’s body is found in a canal off of Hwy. 102 south of Jennings.
■ August and September 2005: Investigations are hampered because of hurricanes Katrina and Rita striking the Louisiana coast.
■ March 6, 2007: Kristen Elizabeth Gary Lopez, 21, is last seen.
■ March 18, 2007: Lopez’s body is found in the Petitjean Canal near Cherokee Road near Lake Arthur.
■ May 10, 2007: Whitnei Charlene Dubois, 26, is last seen.
■ May 12, 2007: Dubois’ body is found near the corner of Bobby and Earl Duhon roads right outside of Jennings.
■ May 27, 2008: ==Laconia Shontel “Muggy” Brown==, 23, is last seen. (highlighted)
■ May 29, 2008: ==Brown’s== body is found off of East Racca Road in rural Jeff Davis Parish. (highlighted)
■ Aug. 29, 2008: Crystal Shay Benoit Zeno, 24, is last seen.
■ Sept. 11, 2008: Zeno’s body is found off of Lacour Road in rural Jeff Davis Parish.
■ Nov. 2, 2008: Brittney Ann Gary, 17, is last seen.
■ Nov. 15, 2008: Gary’s body is found on Keystone Road, about a half-mile south of La. 1126, between Jennings and Welsh.
■ Aug. 16, 2009: Necole Jean Guillory, 26, is last seen.
■ Aug. 19, 2009: Guillory’s body is found off of Interstate 10 in Acadia Parish.
■ Oct. 28, 2009: Led by Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff Ricky Edwards, officials hold a press conference in Jennings in which they say investigators believe the murders could have been committed by a common offender. Officials add that several people have been considered suspects or persons of interest and remain on law enforcement’s radar. An $85,000 reward is announced for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person responsible for the killings.

Multi-Agency Task Force

As more women turned up dead in the secluded corners in and around Jefferson Davis Parish, investigators started connecting the dots between the cases.

Eventually, eight victims would be linked together, often referred to collectively as “Jeff Davis 8” or “Jennings 8”:

1. Loretta Lynn Chaisson Lewis, 28 – 05/20/2005
2. Ernestine Marie Daniels Patterson, 30 – 06/18/2005
3. Kristen Elizabeth Gary Lopez, 21 – 03/18/2007
4. Whitnei Charlene Dubois, 26 – 05/12/2007
5. Laconia Shontel Brown, 23 – 05/29/2008
6. Crystal Shay Benoit Zeno, 24 –  09/11/2008
7. Brittney Ann Gary, 17 – 11/15/2008
8. Necole Jean Guillory, 26 – 08/19/2009

A multi-agency task force formed in response, pulling together the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jennings Police Department, Louisiana State Police, the 15th and 31st Judicial District Attorneys’ Offices, the Louisiana Department of Justice, Louisiana Probation & Parole, and the FBI.

A transcript of the task force’s 10/28/2009 press conference, as posted on its website, stated in part:

“It is the collective opinion of all agencies involved in this investigation that these murders may have been committed by a common offender. For that reason, the label “serial murder” is applicable; however, we have not used that label when referring to this investigation because it does not benefit us in our goals to identify and apprehend the offender, nor does it prevent further loss of life. Labels are sometimes confusing and are subject to misinterpretation… Investigators have followed nearly 1,000 leads, interviewed approximately 500 people and fielded countless telephone calls…”

They also suggested the offender may have:

• changed his method of operation in response to increased public attention and law-enforcement pressure, including altering where victims’ bodies were left;
• closely followed the investigation, media coverage, and private discussions about the cases;
• shown increased nervousness after the murders or discovery of the victims;
• increased his use of drugs or alcohol in response to stress;
• changed his normal routine, including temporarily leaving the area, missing work, or cancelling appointments or social engagements;
• changed vehicles or had a vehicle thoroughly cleaned, including the interior;
• had significant ties to Jefferson Davis Parish and a strong familiarity with the area; and
• been seen in areas of Jennings frequented by the victims and possibly continued to visit those locations.

The task force’s website appears to have gone offline in 06/2013. No public announcement was found confirming its formal disbandment or redirecting the public elsewhere for submitting information.