Among the 32,400 or so souls living in Houma, Louisiana and the surrounding area there may be someone keeping a very ugly secret.
Houma is 57 miles southwest of New Orleans, and it's data indicates that it is normally a pretty decent place to live, if you are one of those crazy folk that find the humidity and heat, insects and alligators endemic to coastal regions of the south charming. Seriously though, in the 2000 census the women outnumbered the men, something that might please single menfolk heading to Houma, the median age of the residents was a young 34 years, and in 2001 and 2002 the number of serious crimes such as murder was very low [source: City-data.com].
Now it looks like someone is killing men in Houma, and also perhaps in neighboring parishes and cities such as Kenner, about 40 miles down the road. Police in both cities have begun to compare notes to see if the linkage between 5 Houma deaths and 3 in Kenner is solid.
Out of the 8 unsolved homicides, all but one man was killed by asphyxiation. In the three Kenner murders, the victims were found barefooted, prompting the Kenner authorities to dub the killings the 'shoeless murders.' [source: article from nola.com, published April 30].
The links between the murders are fairly strong:
- All the victims were men, living what police euphemistically call "high-risk lifestyles" - usually this means drug use, prostitution, petty crime.
- Strangling has been the common method of asphyxiation.
- The age range has been narrow, all of the men apparently under 30.
- Several were found within just a few miles of one another.
Houma police believe that the deaths of Anoka Jones, Datrell Woods, Michael Barnett, Leon Paul Lirette and August Terrell Watkins are solidly linked, and are investigating the most recent body found in an irrigation canal in LaFourche Parish along state Highway 307 as another in the series. This victim was found late last week. Police have only said that the body was that of a white male between the ages of 20 and 30, and noted that this body makes the fourth found in that area since 2000.
Article comments
1 - CMJ
Hi,
Just wanted to share my site address, GeauxLouisiana.com, with those interested in the La serial killings and serial homicide information.
Thanks!
CMJ
2 - Tina
Just one quick comment. You said you didn't find anything that indicated that these murders were of a sexual nature. As I read yours and other articles, all I could think was that they could only be sexually motivated crimes. I could be wrong, but I believe stangulation (and also asphyxiation) are often considered sexual. There are many serial killers who did not have typical sexual contact with their victims, but did strangle or asphyxiate them and they were definately sexually motivated crimes. I believe the same is true of stabbing. From what I've read elsewhere, everything about these crimes screams sexual predator. If history repeats itself, I would think the police are looking for some blends-into-the-wallpaper "family man" or at least someone who is publically heterosexual. Which probably means they will just have to get lucky or he will have to have a complete breakdown and get himself caught.
3 - Jessica (Angel L Mejia)
Hi my name is Jessica an I would like to keep my last name privet at this time. I am 21 years as of the year 2006 soon to be 22. The victim Angel L Mejia were in a relationship at the time of his death the year 1999. He was 21 an I was 14.For so many years I have had this killing me inside, yet had no one to lean on in my time of need. I have heard so many stories from many of our friends of what when an where of that night. Im sure that no one wants to hear it all,but i just really want to say thanks to all of you.It really helps to see that people are talking about this case unlike the others who just make as if it never happend.
thanks truely jessica
[Personal contact info deleted]
if anyone has any qestions about anything i would love to answer them an i really would like to get any new info on the case if anyone has anything
4 - Jma
I also knew angel n still think about his murder.he used 2 stay with a friend of ours felix . I met him when we used 2 live in redwood in kenner .its been about ten years and i could still hear his voice in my head. r.i.p angel