KPEL Interview, Audio at this Link!
Q: When something like this happens, and we know that theres a whole bunch of other steps to go
thinking in terms of the alphabet this is maybe A or B I dont know
but when you reach this stage and youve been at least able to string some of these points together and get an arrest, whats the feeling in the department? Is it relief? Is it its a small victory but boy theres a lot to go in this war to finally put this case to rest?
A: Yeah, you know, weve been working on this case and our multi-jurisdiction task force agencies all across this area nationwide have been assisting us in anything weve asked for and to finally get in a direction a positive step before I think we were stepping out in just about every direction there was because everything was on the table. And so when we received the information about this particular truck and this tip and as we gained more information not only about the owner about Lavergne but about the history of the truck
that it had been burned, and that it was reported stolen, we were able to verify through the video at Lafayette Consolidated Government along with other video that it was in fact Lavergnes truck that traveled behind Mickey. Uh, some other information that were not just yet ready to release because of the ongoing investigation
it was definitely, you know, 1, 2, 3, 4 good steps in the right direction. And so, you know, to come from thousands of tips from A to Z and to finally have that direction ... its not relief but it gets us excited, you know, because we know we finally have a good direction were going in. We have an arrest, we have the guy that we know is responsible for her disappearance and that is definitely a positive. But dont get me wrong, that task force thats working out there, they know they have a lot of work to do left. As a matter of fact, our crime scene technicians are still at Lavergnes residence at this hour.
Q: A lot of work to be done, such as
? What are the next steps for you guys?
A: Okay well first of all were searching his property right now
things such as, have to be determined if theres any evidence value. Our technicians are going to go through his residence and the property around it based on the search warrant that we have and theyll have to pick up things that they feel may have evidence value. And once thats all brought in and have to be laid out and the detectives will have to come in and work with the crime scene technicians and make that determination. So that within itself is very difficult. But, you know, obviously people know phone records, cell phone records, all that comes into play. Its not something that we have
thats just within clicking on the Internet and pulling it. All that has to be subpoenaed, that takes time, a judge has to sign it, it has to be sent, it has to be filled out, sent back to us. Any DNA that is collected
unfortunately we dont solve crimes in an hour like you see on TV. DNA has to be sent off, it has to be processed. Then you have to have something to compare it to. You know, just because you have a DNA DNA from something if you dont have anything to compare it to, whether it would be the victim or person who was at the scene or the suspect then thats basically all that you have
an XYZ DNA sample that you havent matched with anyone at all. So a lot of different things were doing
also areas that we are going to be searching for possible locations that Mickey may have been placed. We have a lot of ideas that we think that, you know, we try to put ourselves in his mindset as to what he would have done at that point and so were going to be searching those particular areas. And again, were going to call for the assistance of the members of our task force and their resources to help us in that as well.
Q: Has he given you anything? Any information is he talking to you guys or is he strictly talk to my lawyer right now?
A: Well when initially was brought in and Im basing this off of one of the conversations I had with one of the lead detectives in this investigation he did talk in general, you know, general conversation. But you have to understand, and this isnt just with the Shunick case but in any case, someone that has been in the system, a criminal, and has a background and has dealt with law enforcement, has a system. And theyll come in and its kind of a, you know, lets see what you have or what I have, and so theyre going to fish us
basically try to seek out what information we have to determine if theyre going to even talk or not. And so, you know, that may have been the case but right now, you know, he came in and we put some question to him and unfortunately he feels the need which is his right to have an attorney. And so well have to find other means to continue to piece our case together. But we still feel that we have a very strong case.
Q: How long ago did you get this tip on him? Can you share that?
A: Yeah, if Im not mistaken, I believe the actual tip came in in June 14th maybe we received information from a concerned citizen about the Z-71 pickup. If you remember correctly I believe we had three to four vehicles of interest that were in the immediate area that we were very interested in. And we eliminated three look, they were in the area, they confirmed they were in the area, but they all had, you know, credible stories and credible information that we felt they were not involved. But we never could find the Z-71. Not the driver, not the person, why wouldnt that person come forward? Because you would know if you were driving in that area at the time. Fortunately because of the volunteers, because of the friends of the Mickey Shunick family just did such an excellent job with social media and getting the word out continue to get the word out that we just felt they would have known. And so we started investigating his background, with the plate, with the owner Lavergne and his background and then based off of that we were able to discover that, in fact, the vehicle had been burned and then after it was burned, that same day that it was reported stolen. You know, thats some powerful information on top of some other things that we have that we havent released yet. So once we were able to gather everything to get to the day that we were, which was yesterday that we sat down with members of the district attorneys office and we felt we have a strong case to get the warrants that we did, which were first degree murder and aggravated kidnapping and put this guy in jail.
Q: Now Corporal, yall said that he was arrested yesterday after a traffic stop on I-10 near I-49. What was it that he did that caused officers to pull him over? Was it just a coincidence that he happened to be pulled over and that ended up leading to his arrest when they discovered that he had a warrant?
A: Well, in the case we had been (pause, as if to think about answering) monitoring the uh, his whereabouts and his goings so we knew that he was working at the time if Im not mistaken he works for an oilfield company in an offshore capacity and so we had been monitoring him. And so when it was told to us that he would be traveling, that information was passed on to the Louisiana State Police who were in the area as to what was happening. The initial charge, or the probable cause, for the violation what they pulled him over for I dont have that information. But what I can tell you is, when they verified who he was and they ran his name it came back with the warrant for the registration as a sex offender.
Q: Now on that we learned that his drivers license had been altered? To hide the fact that he was a sex offender? Maybe if you can just educate me Im not sure sex offenders have something on their drivers license that show, that signal, that they are on the registry?
A: Thats correct. Im not exactly sure of the placement but on the drivers license itself, they have registered sex offender on it if Im not mistaken. And its my understanding that when he went to purchase the vehicle the new vehicle that that information was covered up so that it would not show up when he made the purchase. If Im not mistaken.
Q: A question or so, Corporal Mouton, about I guess procedure and some of the decisions that you guys have to make. Now you mentioned a couple times about information that hasnt been released. Maybe not just this case but in all investigations in general, why can you release some stuff and why cant you? Theres been an arrest here
some might say well, now all bets are off, lets release it.
A: You would think that would be the logic
Q: Again, Im one of those that watch TV and the crimes are all solved in 48 minutes, minus commercials.
A: You would think that would be the logic behind it but its not. You know, when people come in and provide statements and information to us, we want it to be the first time they provide that information. And if we provide details of crimes that only the perpetrator knows, and so when the person comes in to confess to the crime, or the witness comes in to give the information, if they dont give that information that only that perpetrator would know, then chances are we would have to look into how credible that witness is or how credible this person thats coming in to confess to this crime. So its real important that the details about the crime that are held for the investigation, until the investigation is complete and submitted to the district attorneys office, that were able to verify peoples stories as to how credible the information theyre providing to us
You know, the second is that we dont want them to be tried in the public. Everyone, regardless of what you think of someone, or the charges that they face, its so important that they be afforded that fair trial.
Q: Part of our country
A: And whether you like it or not, thats exactly right. Thats the process. And so, its so important that we afford that. And another reason would be that we wouldnt want a change of venue. You know, if everybodys tainted with the information
You know, we want this suspect to be tried in our court system and where the crime was (sic) occurred. And if a jury pool cannot be pulled together and be unbiased in the decision that they make, then its going to be moved and we dont want that.
Q: Thats the other question I had
when the news broke yesterday evening, the passions that were inflamed last night among everybody in Acadiana and when his name was released to the public last night, it was almost as if the majority and this is on social media sites like facebook it was almost as if the majority of the people had already tried and convicted him in their minds. Whats the possibility, do you think, that well be able to find a fair, unbiased jury in Lafayette?
A: Ah, I dont know if I want to give an opinion about that. I feel that theres still people out there that still dont know all the aspects of this case, one reason we dont release all the information for one reason. And two, theres some people out there that just dont follow it as closely. You know, you talk about social media definitely social media was our friend in this investigation, but it also hurt us in a lot of ways. A lot of ways in that it released information or there was rumor of information that wasnt accurate. And, you know, it spread so fast, to curb that inaccuracy that that information thats going out is just very difficult. So, you know, there was a suspects name that was brought up early in this investigation and we really didnt think this was the guy we were going in the right direction, but all these different sources were telling us things but it was all second and third hand information. So, you know, it can help you and it can hurt you. But I really feel that currently that any individual in this case would stand a fair trial here in the 15th Judicial District.
Q: Paul, about 20 seconds, whats the very next step for you guys?
A: Process all this evidence, continue to interview witnesses or people that may have information now that the suspects names out. Were going to get more people that have Oh I saw that guy here or I noticed this about him and so thats going to open up different avenues of directions that were going to need to go. And most importantly, most importantly of all, is to locate Mickey Shunick. And that we will not stop until we can do that and put the Shunick family at ease.
