Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a body found in Thibodaux on Saturday has been identified as a Larose woman. Rani Pinel, 44, was found dead inside a truck parked in a sugar cane field located along Lasseigne Road in Thibodaux. An investigation into her death is underway. 

Pinel’s family had reported her missing earlier in the day on Saturday. She was last seen on Monday afternoon and had contacted her father on the morning of December 18, 2018. She had told her father she had traveled to Texas for a funeral. Through investigation, detectives located Pinel’s father’s truck in a sugar cane field a few hundred feet from Lasseigne Road. Pinel’s body was found inside the truck.

Foul play is suspected in Pinel’s death. Anyone with any information in this case is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online atwww.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 31-year-old Beatrice Clark of Thibodaux. She was reported missing by family members on Saturday night, December 15. Two days earlier, on Thursday, December 13, she dropped off her three children to a relative at an apartment on Winder Road East in Thibodaux. She has not made contact with any family members since. Clark was reportedly seen on Friday, December 14 at a casino on East Bayou Road in Thibodaux. She is described as 5’1” tall, weighing approximately 185 pounds, with black hair. She may be driving a black Chevrolet Trailblazer. Anyone with information on Clark’s whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply call 9-1-1.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two brothers have been arrested and charged with murder in connection to a shooting on December 15, 2018. Detectives arrested 34-year-old Kerry Alexander and 28-year-old Jerrell Alexander, both of Raceland, on Saturday night. They were each charged with two counts of First Degree Murder in the shooting deaths of 26-year-old Marcel Turner of Thibodaux and 23-year-old Jeremiah Ballard of Raceland. The Alexander brothers are also charged with Attempted First Degree Murder in the incident.

Just prior to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, deputies and detectives responded to a residence in the 100 block of Market Street in Raceland in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies found Marcel Turner in the garage of the residence with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators learned a second victim, Jeremiah Ballard, had also suffered gunshot wounds, and he had been taken to Ochsner St. Anne Hospital in Raceland. He later died at the hospital as a result of his injuries. A third man, in his 20s, was also found to be present during the incident, but he was not harmed.

Through investigation, detectives learned two suspects entered the garage wearing all black clothing and camouflage masks. They were brandishing firearms and demanded money. In a matter of seconds, one of the suspects began firing at the men, striking Turner and Ballard, while the third victim was able to escape.

During the course of the investigation, Kerry and Jerrell Alexander were developed as suspects in the shooting, and detectives learned they were in the Boutte area. Working with deputies from the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, detectives located the Alexanders at a restaurant and detained them. They were found wearing all black clothing. Detectives also located a bag outside the restaurant containing two handguns and camouflage masks, and witnesses saw the Alexanders with the bag prior to entering the restaurant. Detectives believe the items recovered were used in the commission of the murders.

Kerry and Jerrell Alexander were booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. They are each charged with two counts of First Degree Murder and one count of Attempted First Degree Murder. Their bonds are set at $1.25 million each.

Both men have extensive criminal histories. Kerry Alexander’s prior arrests include numerous charges for illegal weapons and drugs, as well as false representation, flight from an officer, and theft. Jerrell Alexander’s prior arrests include attempted murder, armed robberies, simple robbery,  assaults, batteries, and other charges.

The investigation into this incident is continuing.

Jerrell Alexander

Kerry Alexander

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two men are dead following a shooting in Raceland on Saturday, December 15. The incident occurred inside a residence in the 100 block of Market Street on Saturday afternoon. One man was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was transported to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Two male persons of interest have been detained, and two handguns were found in their possession.

This incident is actively under investigation. We will provide more details as the investigation continues.

Anyone who may have information on this case is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Thibodaux man following a pursuit from Raceland to Thibodaux. Jared Zeringue, 34, faces multiple charges in the incident.

At around 11:50 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on LA 308 in Raceland due to a vehicle traveling with no headlights and a stolen license plate. The driver, later identified as Jared Zeringue, failed to stop and continued northbound on LA 308. Upon entering the city limits, Thibodaux Police officers used spike strips to try to stop the driver, but Zeringue avoided the strips and continued northbound. He continued through several traffic lights and crashed into a wooded area near Leighton Quarters Road. Zeringue exited the vehicle and began to flee. Deputies began giving loud verbal commands for him to surrender, but he refused. Zeringue’s actions caused deputies to draw their firearms, and one of the deputies fired a single round in Zeringue’s direction, but no one was struck. At that point, Zeringue began complying and surrendered to deputies.

Zeringue was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Legend Drug without Prescription, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting an Officer, switched license plate, no driver’s license, and no headlights. His bond has not yet been set.

Jared Zeringue

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Cut Off man found with stolen property.  Sidney Ricard, 49, has been linked to two burglaries as part of the investigation.

During the early morning hours of Thursday, December 13, detectives responded to a Golden Meadow motel in reference to deputies locating a vehicle containing several stolen items from burglaries in the South Lafourche area. Detectives identified Ricard as the suspect and obtained search warrants for the vehicle and his motel room. Detectives made contact with Ricard inside the room, and he was taken into custody without incident. Detectives located several items identified as stolen property from burglaries and were able to link Ricard to two of the burglaries.

Ricard was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with two counts of Simple Burglary and Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. His bond is set at $25,000.

The investigation is continuing, and additional charges are possible.