Belle Rose man died of natural causes, not fistfight

PAINCOURTVILLE —A Belle Rose man who collapsed after a fistfight early Monday died of natural causes, not from a blow to his head or neck, the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday.

Preliminary findings from the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office indicate Brett Hebert, 43, 6859 La. 1, Belle Rose, died from an “intracranial berry aneurysm,” deputies said in a news release.

Hebert and a Paincourtville man whose identity the Sheriff’s Office has not made public got into an argument and fistfight shortly before 1 a.m. Monday at a residence in Paincourtville, deputies have said.

Witnesses reported seeing Hebert get hit and fall to the ground at one point during the fight, deputies said.

A berry aneurysm is the most common variety of aneurysm, which involves the weakening or bulging of an artery wall in the brain.

The weakening leads to a berry-shaped bulge that is at risk of bursting and bleeding, according to the University of Chicago Medicine online library.

Sheriff Mike Waguespack said Thursday that Hebert’s relatives reported he had been having severe headaches the week before the fight and had some bleeding from his ears.

Deputies did not arrest the man who fought with Hebert, they said Thursday that District Attorney Ricky Babin indicated he would present the case to the grand jury once a final autopsy and toxicology reports are available.

Deputies said Thursday they were questioning witnesses and planned to send Babin their completed investigation.

Babin was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Witnesses at the scene of the fight called 911 and tried to help Hebert once he fell to the ground.

Arriving deputies found him unresponsive on the ground in front of a residence on St. Peter Street in Paincourtville, deputies have said.

Hebert was taken off a ventilator Tuesday night and died at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, deputies said.