61-year-old man stabbed to death

New Orleans — A 61-year-old man was found stabbed to death inside his Mid-City home Thursday afternoon.

New Orleans police said the victim’s cousin went to check on the man in his home in the 3200 block of Bienville Street about 1 p.m. and found him dead on the floor with multiple stab wounds. His identity is being withheld pending notification of family.

Homicide detective Maggie Darling is leading the investigation and can be contacted at (504) 658-5300.

Algiers teen reports rape by cousin

New Orleans — A 15-year-old girl told authorities her 14-year-old cousin raped her, New Orleans police said. The department provided few details about the incident, but according to a daily incident log, the girl was assaulted at a location in the 3300 block of Garden Oaks Drive in Algiers just after noon Thursday.

Investigators probe fatal Grand Isle fire

Grand Isle — A fatal fire at a Grand Isle apartment building in late September remains unclassified but appears to have been started at the hands of a person. Now investigators are trying to figure out if it was intentional.

The initial investigation, led the State Fire Marshal’s Office, indicated the fire was likely an accident. On Friday, however, Deputy Chief Brandt Thompson said the office is looking at several causes.

Investigators have not found evidence of arson, Thompson said. However, they cannot yet rule out that cause, he said, because smoking materials were found around the area damaged by the fire.

The fire was reported shortly after 9:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the former Rusty Pelican Economy Lodge. Firefighters learned that two adults had not escaped the flames and later found the bodies of Belle Brandl, 60, and Timothy Foret, 46, in separate units.

A number of combustible items were found under Brandl’s unit, which helped fuel the fire that consumed much of the wood structure and trapped Brandl and Foret, Thompson said.

Fire investigators found both victims had fire extinguishers and used them in an effort to escape but were forced back into their units, where they died.

Mandeville woman accused of wire fraud

New Orleans — A Mandeville woman has been charged in federal court with wire fraud and tax evasion after authorities claim she stole more than $1 million from her employer and cheated on her taxes.

Melody Huie, 55, was charged Friday in a two-count indictment by U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office. Huie worked as the general manager of accounting for an unidentified New Orleans transportation company, according to the bill of information.

In her job, she had control of the company’s wire accounts and could initiate wire transfers. Prosecutors accuse of her using a co-worker’s name and password to fraudulently transfer money from the company’s accounts into her own. She transferred roughly $1.37 million according to prosecutors.

In addition to those accusations, prosecutors said Huie earned roughly $822,000 in salary from 2006 to 2010 and should have paid more than $257,000 in taxes. However, instead of paying that amount, she forged documents and lied to reduce her tax liability. If convicted, Huie would face a maximum imprisonment of 25 years and substantial fines.

Man tried to kill brother, police say

New Orleans — A 20-year-old man was arrested on a count of attempted first-degree murder after he allegedly stabbed his stepbrother, New Orleans police said.

George Taylor remained jailed Friday without bond, according to Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office records.

Police said Taylor stabbed his brother multiple times about 9:20 p.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Iberville Street.

The brother, whose name was not released, was brought to Interim LSU Public Hospital for treatment. His condition was not available.

Woman, 23, stabbed
in New Orleans East

New Orleans — A 23-year-old woman was stabbed in the stomach early Friday as she was walking in New Orleans East.

Police said a man approached the woman from behind as she walked in the 14700 block of Chef Menteur Highway about 1:04 a.m. and asked where her boyfriend was. When the woman said she did not know, the man pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the stomach, according to police.

The victim was treated at Interim LSU Public Hospital. Police did not provide a description of the man who stabbed her.

Man cut during fight on Uptown street

New Orleans — A 19-year-old man was treated for cuts to his arm he suffered during a fight early Friday morning in Uptown.

Police said the victim was in a fight with two other men about 3 a.m. in the 1000 block of Audubon Street in the university area when he was cut.

He was treated for his wounds at Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. His condition was not available.

Police did not provide a description of the men with whom the victim fought.

Compiled by
the New Orleans bureau