New Orleans — A 46-year-old man whose decomposing body was discovered in his Lower 9th Ward home Thursday evening died from blunt force trauma to his head, an autopsy found.
Police found the victim, whose name is not being released pending notification of family, about 6:30 p.m. after a resident in the 1500 block of Delery Street reported a suspicious odor coming from a nearby home.
Investigators found the man’s body on a bed in a “very advanced stage of decomposition,” according to John Gagliano, the Orleans Parish coroner’s chief investigator.
An autopsy found the man was dead between seven to 10 days before he was discovered. An autopsy determined he was beaten to death.
Police have not released any information on a suspect or motive.
New Orleans — A 26-year-old man was gunned down about noon Friday, and New Orleans police are searching for information on the incident.
Jamie Washington was found in front of an abandoned home in the 900 block of North Rocheblave Street with a gunshot wound to the head, said John Gagliano, the Orleans Parish coroner’s chief investigator. He died from the wound at 12:37 p.m. at Interim LSU Public Hospital, Gagliano said.
Officer Garry Flot, a Police Department spokesman, said investigators do not have a motive or suspect in the shooting.
Police ask anyone with information to call homicide Detective Matthew Morrison who is leading the investigation and can be contacted at (504) 658-5300.
New Orleans — A local man is being sought for questioning by the New Orleans police in connection with an Algiers homicide earlier this month, but police said the man is not considered a suspect in the slaying.
Javon Johnson was found dead at an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Cypres Acres Drive on Oct. 2, and police believe that Darrell “Unc” Duncan, 45, might be able to shed some light on his death. Police did not release any more details on the homicide.
Metairie — The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Michael Chatellier, 69, on Thursday after authorities said he fondled a developmentally disabled girl while she slept.
The 13-year-old victim told investigators that on multiple occasions Chatellier touched her breasts while she was sleeping.
She told police that when she questioned him about his actions, he said that it would help her to grow.
Chatellier made incriminating statements to authorities under questioning, according to an arrest report. Chatellier was booked with aggravated sex crime and remains in custody on $70,000 bond.
New OrleanS — A 27-year-old man was shot outside of his home during a robbery attempt Thursday afternoon.
New Orleans police said the victim was standing in front of his apartment in the 12000 block of the North Interstate 10 Service Road about 5:30 p.m. when a man approached him demanding money. The robber was armed, and when the man didn’t comply with his demands promptly, the robber shot him in the stomach. The gunman then fled on foot.
Metairie — A search of a Metairie home earlier this week turned up nearly 50 pounds of marijuana, assorted weapons and prescription medication according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Gerard Brown, 27, was arrested at his home after detectives executing a search warrant found a stash of marijuana, pills and guns, along with narcotics packaging in assorted sizes, according to an arrest report from the Sheriff’s Office.
Brown remains in custody at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna.
Brown was part of an extended investigation that culminated Tuesday, according to the report.
When detectives searched his home, they found two assault rifles, two handguns, 46 pounds of marijuana and 22 dosage units of diazepam, the generic name for Valium. They also found bags capable of packaging the marijuana in various quantities, the report stated.
Brown was booked with four counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance with a firearm, possession of a Schedule I substance with intent to distribute, possession of a stolen gun and diazepam possession.
Harvey — A ruckus at a West Bank food stamp office in Harvey ended with a Marrero man in jail Thursday.
Reginald Artberry, 53, was booked with simple criminal damage, simple assault and public intimidation after authorities said he allegedly broke a window at a state office building in the 2100 block of the West Bank Expressway. Artberry is being held on $50,000 bail.
Trooper Melissa Matey, with the Louisiana State Police, said that Artberry was waiting in line for at the office when his number was called for service.
When an employee asked if she could help Artberry, he became enraged and smashed his fist through a plate glass window, Matey said. He also threatened the woman, police said.
Matey said authorities don’t know what led to the incident.
“There was really no rhyme or reason why he did what he did,” she said.
New Orleans — Dr. Jerry Haskin, 80, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in federal court Friday in connection with a wide-reaching investigation being handled by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office.
Haskin admitted to Medicare and Medicaid fraud as part of the plea deal and will be sentenced in January in the case.
According to Letten’s office, Haskin was one of more than a dozen doctors, patients and clinics involved in a scheme to submit false reimbursement requests to the government programs.
As part of the scheme, Haskin and the doctors would perform unnecessary tests on patients on multiple occasions and would provide patients with drugs for their cooperation. The case was investigated by multiple federal and state agencies.
Compiled by
the New Orleans bureau
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