LA LA - Judy Ann Gary, 19, St. Martinville, 1 August 1986

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Details of Disappearance that I Feel Need to be Clarified.​

Gary was last seen in St. Martinville, Louisiana on August 2, 1986.
This is finally correct. The original reports approximated the date being August 1st. Judy Ann wasn't reported missing until 2015/2016. Chief Martin claims there were no reports to go on but there was a card in evidence that stated Judy Ann Gary left on August 2, 1986 with a man named Richard Franks. This report was made by Judy's husband Eric Richard. When he is questioned about it now he said he has no idea who that is and claims he never said that.

Pharmacy staff stated Gary got into a green four-door car after leaving the pharmacy.
Hospital Pharmacy Drug Store was small and family owned. I spoke to 3 of the women that worked there at the time of Judy's disappearance and NONE of them knew about it. One of the women even stated that she learned about the case in 2022 when the story was first aired on the news.
 
It sounds like ER’s big issue (from the 4th paragraph) is that he is stressed
(but mostly because he likes to know what’s going on)

“Why won’t they let her call?”
(seems to be a bit of a strawman argument/misdirection). Does he really think that the big problem here is just that somebody won’t let her call, no matter how badly she keeps wanting to?

“Come home and stop hanging out with those people she doesn’t know” Scolding. ER seems to be dropping smoke bombs every time he is interviewed

All jmo
I agree. He does enjoy his smoke bombs.
 

Details of Disappearance that I Feel Need to be Clarified.​

Gary was last seen in St. Martinville, Louisiana on August 2, 1986.
This is finally correct. The original reports approximated the date being August 1st. Judy Ann wasn't reported missing until 2015/2016. Chief Martin claims there were no reports to go on but there was a card in evidence that stated Judy Ann Gary left on August 2, 1986 with a man named Richard Franks. This report was made by Judy's husband Eric Richard. When he is questioned about it now he said he has no idea who that is and claims he never said that.

Pharmacy staff stated Gary got into a green four-door car after leaving the pharmacy.
Hospital Pharmacy Drug Store was small and family owned. I spoke to 3 of the women that worked there at the time of Judy's disappearance and NONE of them knew about it. One of the women even stated that she learned about the case in 2022 when the story was first aired on the news.
Warning! Possible rabbit hole! :

“A card in evidence that stated that Judy Ann Gary left on August 2, 1986 with a man named Richard Franks”

Who’s card? Where did the info on the card come from if ER now claims he’s never heard of Richard Franks? Maybe just some detective writing himself a note? Could he have gotten the name wrong?

It is an interesting name, imo, because it is so similar to the name Frankie Richards, the notorious violent drug dealing pimp boss man in Jennings, LA (only about 45 miles west of St. Martinville)

The last names aren’t exact, but could Eric Richard and Frankie Richards have known each other, or even been related?

Frankie Richards died a few years ago, but he was rumored to have been the leader of a ring that might have been connected to the murders of 8 prostitutes in and around Jennings (the famous - or infamous, unsolved, Jennings 8 murders between 2005-2009). Frankie Richards would’ve been about 30 y.o. I think back in ‘86. With the disappearances being 30 years apart, probably unlikely to be connected, but who knows?

I admit it’s a pretty big leap, but I thought maybe there could be something there - being that the two towns are less than an hour apart, and on the same road. Could Judy be buried in Jennings?

All jmo
 
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“A card in evidence that stated that Judy Ann Gary left on August 2, 1986 with a man named Richard Franks”

Who’s card? Where did the info on the card come from if ER now claims he’s never heard of Richard Franks? Maybe just some detective writing himself a note? Could he have gotten the name wrong?

It is an interesting name, imo, because it is so similar to the name Frankie Richards, the notorious violent drug dealing pimp boss man in Jennings, LA (only about 45 miles away).

Frankie Richards died a few years ago, but he was rumored to have been the leader of a ring that might have been connected to the murders of 8 prostitutes (the famous or infamous, unsolved, Jennings 8 murders between 2005-2009. Frankie would’ve been about 30 I think back in ‘86.

I admit it’s a pretty big leap, but I thought maybe there could be something to it, being as the two towns are less than an hour apart, and on the same road. Could Judy be buried in Jennings?

All jmo
The card was in the files at the police department. These referenced the actual police reports which were disposed of in 1996 according to the Chiefs former secretary.
There was a man named Richard Franks that lived 2 miles away from Judy. I spoke to the woman he was married to at the time. He is now deceased. I believe that he was a scapegoat.
 
Warning! Possible rabbit hole! :

“A card in evidence that stated that Judy Ann Gary left on August 2, 1986 with a man named Richard Franks”

Who’s card? Where did the info on the card come from if ER now claims he’s never heard of Richard Franks? Maybe just some detective writing himself a note? Could he have gotten the name wrong?

It is an interesting name, imo, because it is so similar to the name Frankie Richards, the notorious violent drug dealing pimp boss man in Jennings, LA (only about 45 miles west of St. Martinville)

The last names aren’t exact, but could Eric Richard and Frankie Richards have known each other, or even been related?

Frankie Richards died a few years ago, but he was rumored to have been the leader of a ring that might have been connected to the murders of 8 prostitutes in and around Jennings (the famous - or infamous, unsolved, Jennings 8 murders between 2005-2009). Frankie Richards would’ve been about 30 y.o. I think back in ‘86. With the disappearances being 30 years apart, probably unlikely to be connected, but who knows?

I admit it’s a pretty big leap, but I thought maybe there could be something there - being that the two towns are less than an hour apart, and on the same road. Could Judy be buried in Jennings?

All jmo
I don’t think there are any ties to Frankie Richard other than the last name which is an extremely common Cajun name. Judy stayed closed to home and was always on foot.
 
In effort to catch people up to speed there are a few pretty significant crawfish holes (much like rabbit holes but much much muddier) I want to make everyone aware of.

Linden Lewis to Hamilton.png

This is a map that came in to play in the beginning of my investigation. Eric Richard's parents, Clarence & Betty Jo Richard bought property on Linden Lewis Rd in Youngsville, La in April 1985 after winning a lawsuit. They are Judy's in laws. They then obtained a permit to build/move trailer on their property at 231 Linden Lewis Rd in May 1985. (Lot A)
Judy became homesick and they almost immediately moved back closer to her family in Youngsville. They rented a home at 516 Lasalle St. this is where they lived when she disappeared.

The crawfish hole...
The Richard's neighbor was a sugarcane farmer named Kenry Lewis. Lewis is now serving life for murdering a Domino's pizza driver.
This lead was extensively researched after the police received a tip by her cousin.
I can elaborate if needed but it is not necessary.

I will post the next Crawfish Hole in another post to keep them separate.
 
Crawfish Hole #2

Judy and her sister Laura both dated Ronald James Letullier (DOB 8/21/1963).
Ronald was also in an on and off again relationship with Laura's sister in law.

I will try to explain this as best I can, cliff notes..

In a nutshell, he tried to rob a woman (Linda Badon) beat/stabbed her and left her for dead. They used to live together but I am unsure in what capacity, most likely a tenant. Then he covered her in leaves, yards away from her house, and lit the leaves on fire. She lived.
The next day he and his wife (who he met in jail in a GED class) went on a cocaine bender and stabbed an 88 year old man to death. Then, Ronald put him in his truck and then pushed him into the bayou for $300 in cash. He had just cashed his social security check.
Then they fled to Tennessee!

Ronald Letullier is currently serving a life sentence in Angola.
 
Hi, all. Having read all posts, I have a few questions:
*Did Judy keep her maiden name on marrying ER, or were they actually married?
*What did ER do for a living at the time?
*If it's not a certainty that Judy indeed made it to the drugstore, who created the narrative that she did and left from there (and why)??
* Why were police records on the case disposed of in 1996??
*Could locating Judy (or the process of trying to) implicate local LE in some way? The comments/behavior of local police then and now make that a definite possibility, imo. JMO
ETA: I was unable to watch any of the video clips shared, if they would've answered any of my questions.
 
Hi, all. Having read all posts, I have a few questions:
*Did Judy keep her maiden name on marrying ER, or were they actually married?
*What did ER do for a living at the time?
*If it's not a certainty that Judy indeed made it to the drugstore, who created the narrative that she did and left from there (and why)??
* Why were police records on the case disposed of in 1996??
*Could locating Judy (or the process of trying to) implicate local LE in some way? The comments/behavior of local police then and now make that a definite possibility, imo. JMO
ETA: I was unable to watch any of the video clips shared, if they would've answered any of my questions.

Yes, Judy kept her maiden name and they were legally married in January 1984.

Eric was working at a plant Nursery called Dugals in Lafayette, La. When I spoke with him he said that he stopped working when they moved back to St. Martinville because he didn't have a ride. Later he said a car. Another time he said he always had a car. I questioned how he paid the rent if he quit his job to move there and he said he worked hard.

No one is exactly positive where the statement regarding the pharmacy came from. I know that in speaking to the family they all heard it from Eric. When I ask Eric he said that is what the staff told him.

The week before Judy went missing she told her sister that Eric was making her have sex with his boss for car rides to and from work. This came directly from her sister. Judy told her she was tired of it and that one day she would go missing an no one was ever going to find her. Judy's sister urged her to leave Eric and move in with her and her husband but she never did. Eric denies this claim and said he would never share his wife.
When Eric was interviewed on 1/18/23 he told the Detective the weekend before he and Judy went to her friend's house.
He doesn't remember where or any specific names except her name was Pam and her husband was a big cop. Eric stated she was a Smith or her parents were. This is significant because her sister Laura was married to a Smith. His claim was that he "figured they were trying to cross breed or something like that or do a swing". Eric said he insisted they leave and they never spoke about it again.

All of the case records, solved and unsolved, from 1996 and prior were disposed of according to the Chief's secretary. I was told it was to make room because they didn't have electronic files.

Could locating Judy implicate local LE in some way? Absolutely.
 
This place (St Martinsville) - and these places (St Martinsville and Jennings) - and these people, are like ‘Deliverance’ on steroids. Appalachia’s got nothing on them. Hard to even fathom

Jmo
Not everyone in St. Martinville is like that. Unfortunately there are quite a few people that could have walked right off the set of the movie.
 
Yes, Judy kept her maiden name and they were legally married in January 1984.

Eric was working at a plant Nursery called Dugals in Lafayette, La. When I spoke with him he said that he stopped working when they moved back to St. Martinville because he didn't have a ride. Later he said a car. Another time he said he always had a car. I questioned how he paid the rent if he quit his job to move there and he said he worked hard.

No one is exactly positive where the statement regarding the pharmacy came from. I know that in speaking to the family they all heard it from Eric. When I ask Eric he said that is what the staff told him.

The week before Judy went missing she told her sister that Eric was making her have sex with his boss for car rides to and from work. This came directly from her sister. Judy told her she was tired of it and that one day she would go missing an no one was ever going to find her. Judy's sister urged her to leave Eric and move in with her and her husband but she never did. Eric denies this claim and said he would never share his wife.
When Eric was interviewed on 1/18/23 he told the Detective the weekend before he and Judy went to her friend's house.
He doesn't remember where or any specific names except her name was Pam and her husband was a big cop. Eric stated she was a Smith or her parents were. This is significant because her sister Laura was married to a Smith. His claim was that he "figured they were trying to cross breed or something like that or do a swing". Eric said he insisted they leave and they never spoke about it again.

All of the case records, solved and unsolved, from 1996 and prior were disposed of according to the Chief's secretary. I was told it was to make room because they didn't have electronic files.

Could locating Judy implicate local LE in some way? Absolutely.
So, was there in fact a couple with the last name Smith - comprised of a big cop with a wife named Pam?

Was Pam Smith (if there was such a person) Laura’s sister in law?

Why would ER not be able to remember their names, or where they lived? After all, would the Smith’s have also been his brother and sister in law? (Weren’t Judt and Laura sisters?). I must be missing something

Did JAG and her sister Laura get along?

What were they both (and possibly Laura’s sister in law (again, is that Pam? Pam
Smith?) doing dating / sleeping with (or possibly getting raped by) a monster like attempted murderer (sounds like, anyway) Ronald J Letullier? Was this while they (Judt, Laura, Pam - or at least Judy) were married?

If Pam was Laura’s sister in law and Laura’s sister in law was possibly aldo sleeping with RL, i guess the big cop was okay with it? Everybody swapping? Ughh

And what would that that have to do with her disappearance anyway? Does it mean Ronald might’ve disappeared Judy? Big cop? Why?

When was Ronald sentenced?

Sure seems that ER would be the most likely suspect. Either him or RL (or was he even a bf?) who seemingly sleeping with (or raping) the entire town) or her sister Laura or her sister’s sister in law’s husband big cop or ER’s boss at the women's (maybe together with ER?)?

And I get that JAG might’ve stayed barefoot and typically stuck close to home in Martinsville , but given all the above, I don’t think we can necessarily assume she was going nowhere when she was reportedly seen getting into a truck. Where was truck going?

Sex in the exchange for a ride to work, for your husband? Three women sleeping with attempted murderer at same time, with at least two of husbands knowing?

Then ER, (who sounds like a real piece of work) paraphrased: “I think they wanted to get together for cross breeding or swinging something..”

Really?

Again, not saying Frankie Richards was involved, just saying it’s not out of the realm of possibility that there was pimping and sex trafficking and violent assault going on in that entire band of LA - by seemingly everyone, including women, men, women's bf’s, and women’s husbands.

So, hard to rule out a connection to Jennings as it sounds like that area of LA, that stretch from St Martinsville to Jennings - is almost one large but not very populated backwoods town

<modsnip>

FM you certainly deserve huge kudos for researching the case and trying to find some justice for Judy. It seems however that with the case files and evidence missing, and so little real info available, this one may never get solved (unless of course JAG is found and DNA or other incriminating evidence is found at the scene.

All jmo
 
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Yes, Judy kept her maiden name and they were legally married in January 1984.
RSBM
Thank you for clarifying. Maybe she felt it was a part of her identity she had some control over.
Eric was working at a plant Nursery called Dugals in Lafayette, La. When I spoke with him he said that he stopped working when they moved back to St. Martinville because he didn't have a ride. Later he said a car. Another time he said he always had a car. I questioned how he paid the rent if he quit his job to move there and he said he worked hard.
He seems very inconsistent (to put it nicely)..
No one is exactly positive where the statement regarding the pharmacy came from. I know that in speaking to the family they all heard it from Eric. When I ask Eric he said that is what the staff told him.
Is that the same staff that knew nothing about Judy going missing until 2022?
The week before Judy went missing she told her sister that Eric was making her have sex with his boss for car rides to and from work. This came directly from her sister. Judy told her she was tired of it and that one day she would go missing an no one was ever going to find her. Judy's sister urged her to leave Eric and move in with her and her husband but she never did. Eric denies this claim and said he would never share his wife.
When Eric was interviewed on 1/18/23 he told the Detective the weekend before he and Judy went to her friend's house.
He doesn't remember where or any specific names except her name was Pam and her husband was a big cop. Eric stated she was a Smith or her parents were. This is significant because her sister Laura was married to a Smith. His claim was that he "figured they were trying to cross breed or something like that or do a swing". Eric said he insisted they leave and they never spoke about it again.
Well,  somebody's either lying or delusional. Either Judy was being manipulated sexually or she was really getting around (this should  not be construed as judging or victim-blaming). I will say her husband sure seems to have an oddly selective memory....
All of the case records, solved and unsolved, from 1996 and prior were disposed of according to the Chief's secretary. I was told it was to make room because they didn't have electronic files.
Wow. They couldn't invest in a lockable shed? I'm wondering if maybe they weren't trying to bury some of their own skeletons....
Could locating Judy implicate local LE in some way? Absolutely.
You've mentioned a lack of diligence on their part, but hopefully they've not outright hindered your efforts. Is the local police force a small one (as in some members being related or connected to high-ranking members of the community)?
 
not saying Frankie Richards
Just want to make the small point that his name was Richard, which in Louisiana is pronounced “Ree-shard”, not like the more familiar ‘Rich-ard(s)’.

and her husband was a big cop. Eric stated she was a Smith or her parents were. This is significant because her sister Laura was married to a Smith. His claim was that he "figured they were trying to cross breed or something like that or do a swing".

Curious whether ‘big cop’ was a reference to rank or his physical size, and what he meant by ‘cross-breed’ - was there any implication that the alleged big cop was a different race?
 
So, was there in fact a couple with the last name Smith - comprised of a big cop with a wife named Pam?

Was Pam Smith (if there was such a person) Laura’s sister in law?

Why would ER not be able to remember their names, or where they lived? After all, would the Smith’s have also been his brother and sister in law? (Weren’t Judt and Laura sisters?). I must be missing something

Did JAG and her sister Laura get along?

What were they both (and possibly Laura’s sister in law (again, is that Pam? Pam
Smith?) doing dating / sleeping with (or possibly getting raped by) a monster like attempted murderer (sounds like, anyway) Ronald J Letullier? Was this while they (Judt, Laura, Pam - or at least Judy) were married?

If Pam was Laura’s sister in law and Laura’s sister in law was possibly aldo sleeping with RL, i guess the big cop was okay with it? Everybody swapping? Ughh

And what would that that have to do with her disappearance anyway? Does it mean Ronald might’ve disappeared Judy? Big cop? Why?

When was Ronald sentenced?

Sure seems that ER would be the most likely suspect. Either him or RL (or was he even a bf?) who seemingly sleeping with (or raping) the entire town) or her sister Laura or her sister’s sister in law’s husband big cop or ER’s boss at the women's (maybe together with ER?)?

And I get that JAG might’ve stayed barefoot and typically stuck close to home in Martinsville , but given all the above, I don’t think we can necessarily assume she was going nowhere when she was reportedly seen getting into a truck. Where was truck going?

Sex in the exchange for a ride to work, for your husband? Three women sleeping with attempted murderer at same time, with at least two of husbands knowing?

Then ER, (who sounds like a real piece of work) paraphrased: “I think they wanted to get together for cross breeding or swinging something..”

Really?

Again, not saying Frankie Richards was involved, just saying it’s not out of the realm of possibility that there was pimping and sex trafficking and violent assault going on in that entire band of LA - by seemingly everyone, including women, men, women's bf’s, and women’s husbands.

So, hard to rule out a connection to Jennings as it sounds like that area of LA, that stretch from St Martinsville to Jennings - is almost one large but not very populated backwoods town

<modsnip>

FM you certainly deserve huge kudos for researching the case and trying to find some justice for Judy. It seems however that with the case files and evidence missing, and so little real info available, this one may never get solved (unless of course JAG is found and DNA or other incriminating evidence is found at the scene.

All jmo
So, was there in fact a couple with the last name Smith - comprised of a big cop with a wife named Pam?
I looked extensively for this mystery couple and haven't found one. I also tried to obtain records of who was employed by the police department and sheriff's departments at the time. I was told by the Chief that there wasn't one. The woman who was his secretary was the only person who was still employed now and in 1986. Chief Martin asked her to create a list several times over at least an 8 month period. She never did.I had even contacted the mayor's office and they said they did not know of any records like that. I created my own list based off of names the public remembered and names I found in the newspaper. I am sure I am missing someone which is frustrating. I looked up marriage records for the names I did find and had no luck.

Was Pam Smith (if there was such a person) Laura’s sister in law?
No one on the Smith side knew who she was. I inquired if there was anyone in law enforcement or married to someone in law enforcement. There was not.
Laura Gary was married to Steven "Ba'Boy" Smith. (Ba'Boy had 14 siblings.)


Why would ER not be able to remember their names, or where they lived?
I found this weird too. Especially if your wife went missing shortly after and you had nothing to hide.

After all, would the Smith’s have also been his brother and sister in law? (Weren’t Judt and Laura sisters?). I must be missing something
If Eric's story is true then this couple would have been Judy's sister Laura's in-laws, not Judy's.

Did JAG and her sister Laura get along?
Yes, they were the closest in age and very close.

What were they both (and possibly Laura’s sister in law (again, is that Pam? Pam
Smith?) doing dating / sleeping with (or possibly getting raped by) a monster like attempted murderer (sounds like, anyway) Ronald J Letullier? Was this while they (Judt, Laura, Pam - or at least Judy) were married?
Ba'Boy's sister that was dating Ronald Letullier is named Peggy.

When was Ronald sentenced?
Ronald Letullier was indicted in 1996.


And I get that JAG might’ve stayed barefoot and typically stuck close to home in Martinsville , but given all the above, I don’t think we can necessarily assume she was going nowhere when she was reportedly seen getting into a truck. Where was truck going?
After speaking to the pharmacy employees I feel confident she never made it to the pharmacy or there ever was a 4 door green car.

FM you certainly deserve huge kudos for researching the case and trying to find some justice for Judy. It seems however that with the case files and evidence missing, and so little real info available, this one may never get solved (unless of course JAG is found and DNA or other incriminating evidence is found at the scene.
Thank you. There is one little tiny huge thing I haven't mentioned yet. I am giving the police department until the end of the month in hopes they will do something. If not, I will definitely be sharing it here in hopes of getting fresh eyes on things.
 
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He seems very inconsistent (to put it nicely)..
He is a peach.
Is that the same staff that knew nothing about Judy going missing until 2022?
It is. IMO if you watch a woman go missing or leave to never be seen again you would remember something like that for years to come.
You've mentioned a lack of diligence on their part, but hopefully they've not outright hindered your efforts. Is the local police force a small one (as in some members being related or connected to high-ranking members of the community)?
The original Detective on the case was very thorough and got things done. The current one says he is going to certain things and never follows through. He is a snake in the grass. When this was reopened 2 years ago there was only one detective and now there are two. It is very small.
 
Curious whether ‘big cop’ was a reference to rank or his physical size, and what he meant by ‘cross-breed’ - was there any implication that the alleged big cop was a different race?
Eric said he was a big guy and good looking. He was caucasian.
Cross-breeding was just his reference to switching spouses.
 

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