Identified! LA - Rapides Parish, WhtFem Skeletal 65UFLA, 15-19, w/ dog bones, Nov'80 *Arrests* - Donna Brazzell

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In July 2019, RPSO received information relating to the identity of the victim. With the assistance of the FACES and Louisiana State Police Crime Labs, DNA testing identified the victim as Donna Gayle Brazzell. Donna was about 18 years old at the time of her death and had been residing in the Alexandria/Pineville area. Sufficient probable cause was established, which resulted in warrants being granted for Laird's and Haymon's arrest for first degree murder, first degree rape and aggravated kidnapping.

On August 14, Laird was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he remains. Bonds were set in reference to the charges of first degree rape, and aggravated kidnapping totaling $1,000,000. Bonds have yet to be set in reference to the charge of first degree murder.

Haymon is currently in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections in reference to convictions relating to second degree kidnapping, first degree robbery and public bribery. Haymon is currently serving a 49-year sentence and is currently projected to be released in 2047. Arrangements are in place to have Haymon booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center in reference to his new charges.

Detectives state their investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
Arrests made in Louisiana cold case homicide reported in 1980
 
beatrixpotter said:
How did they know who to arrest after all this time?
Click to expand...
The investigation was originally assigned to then-detective William E. Hilton. During his investigation, Hilton reviewed missing person reports from the Rapides Parish area, as well as the surrounding states. Representatives of Louisiana State University's Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons, also known as “The FACES Lab” assisted with the investigation.

The Repository was able to establish the victim was a caucasian female between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of her death. It was believed the victim's remains were exposed to the elements between approximately 2 months up to a year or more. The Repository also assisted with the documentation of the victim's DNA profile. FACES composed a reconstruction of the victim's skull, which provided investigators a likeness of the victim. A photograph of the reconstruction was later placed on the repository's website. Over the years it would be shared on many other websites, including social media.

As time progressed, the case became cold. It was reviewed by several detectives at the sheriff's office, but remained unsolved. In 2014, RPSO received information in reference to the case. Detectives were able to identify Leo Laird, 64, and Gary Joseph Haymon, 54, both of Oakdale, as suspects.

In July 2019, RPSO received information relating to the identity of the victim. With the assistance of the FACES and Louisiana State Police Crime Labs, DNA testing identified the victim as Donna Gayle Brazzell. Donna was about 18 years old at the time of her death and had been residing in the Alexandria/Pineville area. Sufficient probable cause was established, which resulted in warrants being granted for Laird's and Haymon's arrest for first degree murder, first degree rape and aggravated kidnapping.

On August 14, Laird was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he remains. Bonds were set in reference to the charges of first degree rape, and aggravated kidnapping totaling $1,000,000. Bonds have yet to be set in reference to the charge of first degree murder.
Arrests made in Louisiana cold case homicide reported in 1980
 
Official announcement on police FB page:

===
On November 05th, 1980, the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office received a complaint related to the discovery of skeletal remains near Louisiana Highway 28 West, in the Gardner area. The complainant reported the remains were located in a wooded area near Nichols Cemetery Road. The investigation was originally assigned to then Detective William E. Hilton. Hilton initiated his investigation immediately, which included reviewing missing person reports from the Rapides Parish area, as well as the surrounding states.

Representatives of Louisiana State University's Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons, also known as “The FACES Lab” assisted with the investigation. The Repository was able to establish the victim was a caucasian female between approximately sixteen and twenty-one years of age at the time of her death. It was believed the victim's remains were exposed to the elements between approximately two months up to one or more years. The Repository also assisted with the documentation of the victim's DNA profile. FACES composed a reconstruction of the victim's skull, which provided investigators a likeness of the victim. A photograph of the reconstruction was later placed on the repository's website. Over the years it would be shared on many other web based sites, along with social media sites.

As time progressed, the case became cold. It was reviewed by several detectives at the sheriff's office, but remained unsolved. In 2014, the sheriff's office received information in reference to the case. Detectives furthered their investigation which resulted in Leo Laird, 64 and Gary Joseph Haymon, 54, both of Oakdale being identified as suspects.

In July 2019, the sheriff's office received information relating to the identity of the victim. With the assistance of the FACES and Louisiana State Police Crime Labs, DNA testing identified the victim as Donna Gayle Brazzell. Donna was approximately eighteen years of age at the time of her death and had been residing in the Alexandria/Pineville area. Sufficient probable cause was established which resulted in warrants being granted for Laird's and Haymon's arrest in reference to First Degree Murder, First Degree Rape, and Aggravated Kidnapping.

On August 14th, Laird was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he remains. Bonds were set in reference to the charges of First Degree Rape, and Aggravated Kidnapping totaling $1,000,000.00. Bonds have yet to be set in reference to the charge of First Degree Murder.

Haymon is currently in the custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections in reference to convictions relating to Second Degree Kidnapping, First Degree Robbery, and Public Bribery. Haymon is currently serving a forty-nine year sentence and is currently projected to be released in 2047. Arrangements are in place to have Haymon booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center in reference to his new charges.

Detectives state their investigation is still ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

Arrestee:
Leo Laird, 64
1606 Louisiana Highway 10 Oakdale, La.

Charges:
First Degree Murder
First Degree Rape
Aggravated Kidnapping
______________________________________________

Arrestee:
Gary Joseph Haymon, 54
278 Dovie Laird Road Oakdale, La.

Charges:
First Degree Murder
First Degree Rape
Aggravated Kidnapping

Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office
 
From The Daily Beast:

Police Arrest Two Louisiana Men in 39-Year-Old Cold Case Murder of Teen

"The sketch of the victim proved key to cracking the case five years later, when a woman contacted authorities claiming the picture resembled her long lost granddaughter. After a DNA comparison last month, authorities confirmed the remains belonged to the woman’s relative, Donna Gayle Brazzell."
 
to Sheriff Hilton, Laird has faced battery and rape charges, and Haymon was already in prison at the time of his arrest last week, serving 49 years for kidnapping, robbery, and public bribery.

But the case isn't over yet, and RPSO said the two suspects could face even more charges.

Detective Steve Phillips is currently working the case.

to Sheriff Hilton, Laird has faced battery and rape charges, and Haymon was already in prison at the time of his arrest last week, serving 49 years for kidnapping, robbery, and public bribery.

But the case isn't over yet, and RPSO said the two suspects could face even more charges.

Detective Steve Phillips is currently working the case.

Because the investigation is ongoing, no further details can be released at this time.
RPSO detectives closer to solving 1980 cold case
 
I am so glad she was finally able to get her name back and her family can have some closure. I have been trying to figure out who she was for the last 9 years or so, and I never saw Donna on a missing persons website, so I am taking it she was never reported missing. It seems like a lot of these cold cases that have been recently identified thru DNA have never been reported missing.
 
“These cases never, ever leave a policeman’s mind,” Officer William Earl Hilton, who was first assigned the case, told KBLA. “They prey on you all the time. Especially cases like this that you never solve.”

Authorities declined to elaborate on what evidence led to Laird and Haymon’s arrest, but said “sufficient probable cause was established.” Both men have been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree rape, and aggravated kidnapping.

The sketch of the victim proved key to cracking the case five years later, when a woman contacted authorities claiming the picture resembled her long lost granddaughter. After a DNA comparison last month, authorities confirmed the remains belonged to the woman’s relative, Donna Gayle Brazzell.
Police Arrest Two Louisiana Men in 39-Year-Old Cold Case Murder of Teen
 
A good news story of the work LSU FACES Laboratory & forensic anthropologists did on the case.

Also: "RPSO is putting the finishing touches on the case and expects to hand it off to the district attorney's office soon."

"FACES: Anthropologists help crack Rapides Parish cold case"
FACES: Anthropologists help crack Rapides Parish cold case
 
Ah! Sorry in a web search I see this was solved. Louisiana police have never removed from their UID site even though she has been ID and perpetrators jailed!
 

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Considering the difference b/w smiling and not in the photos, the artist was spot on in his/her reconstruction. Check out the subtle indentation on the right side of her nose. I can certainly see how grandma recognized Donna's likeness in the recon. I'm glad she's finally been identified. May she rest peacefully.

Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office

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Were missing people not recorded back in the day or was it assumed if they were over 18 they left on their own? It would be great if any family has not heard from a loved one for a long time that they put them on nameus or something similar. Even if they thought they were reported missing decades ago it might not be on record! Just glad people are getting their names back after so long.
 
MissUnderstood said:
Were missing people not recorded back in the day or was it assumed if they were over 18 they left on their own? It would be great if any family has not heard from a loved one for a long time that they put them on nameus or something similar. Even if they thought they were reported missing decades ago it might not be on record! Just glad people are getting their names back after so long.
Click to expand...
It was common for people to go off to "find themselves". A big thing in the 60s and 70s was to go on a caravan trek and travel Mexico, US, and Canada. I spent a year doing that in the 70s. People were not so "connected" back then, and adults were not considered missing unless there was evidence like a family disappearing with their car. The culture was different, they were less dependent upon family. It was a different world.
 
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