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The Investigative Unit
Yesterday
Commissioner considering if convicted murderer should get hearing that could free him
Posted 6:30 PM 12/3/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
What was supposed to be a routine status conference in an inmate's petition for post-conviction relief turned in to something unexpected when the defendant spoke for himself.
Lee Lucas has been in prison for nearly 30 years serving a life sentence for the murder of Eric Howard, but alleges (More)
12/2/2025
Investigators determining if stabbing death of 28-year-old man was justified
Posted 6:32 PM 12/2/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - Though police know who did it, there have been no arrests yet in the stabbing death of Kyle Coleman; that's because the person who allegedly stabbed him may have been acting in self defense.
Coleman was stabbed early Monday morning on North Ardenwood Drive. He drove himself (More)
12/1/2025
Kiffin's 7-year LSU contract pays $13 million annually, up to $1 million if Ole Miss wins 2025 CFP
Posted 11:17 AM 12/1/2025 by Domenic Purdy
BATON ROUGE — Lane Kiffin will be paid $13 million annually, the seven-year contract the new LSU head football coach signed says.
Kiffin, who left Ole Miss (More)
11/26/2025
Three years later, some movement in Lee Lucas post-conviction relief petition
Posted 6:06 PM 11/26/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
It's been three years since Lee Lucas filed an application for post-conviction relief, which he drafted himself from prison.
Now it appears his plea could be heard by a judge.
Lucas has been serving a life sentence for nearly 30 years for the murder of Eric Howard.
He was (More)
11/25/2025
Louisiana Housing Corporation chief of staff reportedly forced to resign
Posted 6:48 PM 11/25/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE -- A state employee has reportedly been forced to resign from another government position following an internal investigation.
Jacques Ambers is a familiar face in state government, having served under high-level state officials in the past.
His most recent position was (More)
11/24/2025
WBRZ Investigative Unit: BREC says it's 'supporting' leader indicted for malfeasance, conspiracy
Posted 5:38 PM 11/24/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - Despite being indicted for malfeasance in office last month, BREC Assistant Superintendent Reed Richard was still at work until two weeks ago.
(More)...11/20/2025
WBRZ Investigative Unit: How man with history of stalking was able to bond out and kill ex
Posted 6:23 PM 11/20/2025 by Bess Casserleigh & Logan Cullop
BATON ROUGE - Law enforcement in East Baton Rouge Parish is still unraveling how a man with a documented history of domestic-related harassment, who was on (More)
11/19/2025
Convicted thief, subject of many WBRZ Investigative Unit reports, arrested again
Posted 5:57 PM 11/19/2025 by Logan Cullop
BATON ROUGE - A convicted thief who was arrested on more than a dozen charges of filing false public records was arrested again on Tuesday.
Vallery "Val" Thierry has been the subject of multiple (More)
11/17/2025
Investigative Unit: Stabbing victim had asked for protective order against alleged killer once before
Posted 6:39 AM 11/18/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
The WBRZ Investigative Unit has obtained more documents showing the rocky relationship history that led to two deaths last week.
According to Baton Rouge Police, 28-year-old Steven Heinrich stabbed 23-year-old Stasy Charles to death before crashing his car and setting himself on fire.
(More)...11/14/2025
INVESTIGATIVE: One stalking victim's mother speaks after man kills woman, sets himself on fire
Posted 11:06 AM 11/15/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE -- A man with a history of stalking and violating protective orders was able to get out on a $2,500 bond after allegedly beating his most recent girlfriend. A week later, Baton Rouge police say he killed her.
BRPD says Steven Heinrich, 28, stabbed Stasy Charles, 23, to (More)
11/12/2025
State Fire Marshal to change inspection protocol following New Roads Ferris wheel accident
Posted 8:19 PM 11/12/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
NEW ROADS - State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams wants sweeping changes made to how carnival rides are inspected in Louisiana.
The push follows an accident at the Harvest Festival in New Roads in which two girls were seriously injured after being dumped 20 feet from a Ferris wheel.
(More)...11/10/2025
Tangipahoa River polluted by Smitty's fire reopens, cleanup efforts remain
Posted 6:46 PM 11/10/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - On Friday, independent tester Scott Smith showed the WBRZ Investigative Unit new data from the Smitty's fire contamination, revealing concerning results.
(More)...11/7/2025
New testing results from Smitty's runoff show cancer-causing 'forever chemicals'
Posted 2:07 PM 11/9/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
ROSELAND -- Brand new, independent testing results given exclusively to the WBRZ Investigative Unit show the presence of PFA's, or "forever chemicals," in the Tangipahoa River and surrounding waterways weeks after an explosion at Smitty's Supply.
"It's highly carcinogenic and causes a lot (More)
11/6/2025
More TKE fraternity brothers arrested in ongoing hazing investigation at LSU; frat on interim suspension
Posted 4:18 AM 11/7/2025 by WBRZ Staff
BATON ROUGE — Four more members of the LSU chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon have been arrested in connection with a hazing investigation of the fraternity (More)
11/5/2025
BRPD looking to enhance street racing enforcement after participant shot at officer
Posted 7:09 AM 11/6/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - The Baton Rouge Police Department says officers are cracking down on illegal street racing meetups after a participant shot at an officer over the weekend.
Videos posted to social media capture the recklessness an lawlessness of the meetup that took place on Mammoth Ave (More)
11/4/2025
Texts between defendant and father lead to 19th JDC judge's recusal
Posted 9:05 PM 11/4/2025 by Logan Cullop & Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - Judge Gail Horne Ray was recused from presiding over the trial for Casen Carver, one of four people arrested in the alleged rape of Madison Brooks that happened (More)
