Antoinette Frank
Police Officer Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
New Orleans, Louisiana
TIME PERIOD
March 4, 1995
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
On March 4, 1995, Antoinette Frank, a former officer of the New Orleans Police Department, committed a violent armed robbery at a Vietnamese restaurant, resulting in the murders of two family members and NOPD officer Ronald A. Williams II. Frank was aided by her accomplice, drug dealer Rogers LaCaze, and after the incident, she returned to the crime scene in a police patrol car, attempting to feign ignorance of the events. Frank was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, currently incarcerated at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, where she remains the only woman on the state's death row. Significant evidence includes the discovery of a human skull with a bullet hole buried under her house, believed to be that of her father, who had a history of abusing her.
Antoinette Frank is believed to have killed her father, Adam Frank, who had repeatedly raped her as a child, and speculation surrounds the discovery of a human skull with a bullet hole buried under her house, which was found shortly after her sentencing. Some theorize that her violent behavior may have been influenced by her traumatic past and her relationship with drug dealer Rogers LaCaze, who aided her in the restaurant murders. There is also speculation that Frank's actions were motivated by a desire to cover up her family history and her connection to criminal activities.
The Gruesome Tale of Antoinette Frank: Betrayal in Blue
The Crime
On a chilling night in New Orleans, March 4, 1995, the city was rocked by a crime of unimaginable betrayal. Antoinette Renee Frank, a trusted officer of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), committed a heinous act of murder and robbery at the Kim Anh restaurant. The victims were not just strangers; they included her fellow officer, Ronald A. Williams II, and two members of the Vietnamese-American Vu family, who owned the restaurant. Accompanying Frank was her probable lover, Rogers LaCaze, a known drug dealer. Together, they orchestrated a plan that would end in bloodshed and sorrow.
After the assault, Frank fled the scene, only to return shortly in a police patrol car, feigning innocence. She shockingly approached a survivor who had hidden in a freezer, asking what had transpired, despite being the architect of the chaos.
The Background
Born: April 30, 1971, Opelousas, Louisiana
Occupation: Former Police Officer, New Orleans Police Department (1993–1995)
Criminal Status: Incarcerated at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
Convictions: First degree murder (3 counts)
Criminal Penalty: Death
Antoinette Frank's life was marred with suspicion even before her notorious crime. She was believed to be involved in the disappearance and presumed murder of her father, Adam Frank, who had allegedly abused her throughout her childhood. In a grim twist, a human skull with a bullet hole was found beneath her house just a month after her death sentence. Her father had been staying with her shortly before he was reported missing in 1993.
The Police Career
Frank's journey with the NOPD began in early 1993 under contentious circumstances. Despite failing two standard psychiatric evaluations and being caught lying on her application, she was hired due to a critical shortage of officers. The NOPD, plagued by low pay and high turnover, was desperate enough to overlook her discrepancies. Frank graduated from the police academy on February 28, 1993, and began her career, although her performance was consistently underwhelming. She was often described as shy and indecisive, with some colleagues noting bouts of irrational behavior.
A Dangerous Relationship
Frank's professional life took a dark turn when she met Rogers LaCaze. Their paths crossed on November 25, 1994, when LaCaze was shot, and Frank took his statement. What began as a professional interaction soon turned personal, despite LaCaze's reputation as a drug dealer and his involvement in violent incidents. Their relationship raised eyebrows within the department as LaCaze was seen driving Frank's car and even impersonating a police trainee.
Frank maintained her connection with LaCaze, even attempting to buy 9mm ammunition for him the day before the murders. She denied any romantic involvement, though it was later revealed they were intimately involved. This alliance would culminate in the tragic events at Kim Anh.
The Restaurant Murders
On that fateful night, Frank and LaCaze visited the Kim Anh restaurant multiple times, where Frank worked off-duty as a security guard. It was their third visit that proved fatal. Chau Vu, one of the family members, sensed danger and hid the restaurant's money in a microwave before retreating to a cooler with her brother Quoc and an employee. Frank, armed with a stolen key, let herself in and forced the group into the kitchen. LaCaze shot Officer Williams in the neck, leaving him paralyzed before finishing him off with additional shots.
The Vu siblings, Ha and Cuong, were confronted and brutally murdered by Frank after she retrieved the hidden money. Despite the horror, Chau managed to call for help, leading to a dramatic confrontation when Frank returned to the scene, attempting to pose as a responding officer. Chau bravely identified Frank as the murderer to the arriving officers.
The Investigation and Trials
The investigation swiftly led to Frank's arrest and subsequent confession. She and LaCaze were indicted on April 28, 1995. LaCaze was tried first in July and found guilty, largely due to his use of Williams' credit card shortly after the murders, and sentenced to death.
Frank's trial commenced on September 5, 1995. Despite calling no witnesses, the jury needed only 22 minutes to convict her, and 45 minutes the next day to decide on the death penalty. She was formally sentenced on October 20, 1995, solidifying her place on Louisiana's death row.
Aftermath and Legacy
Officer Ronald Williams was laid to rest with honor, his name etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The Vu family, after enduring such loss, continued to run their restaurant until Hurricane Katrina forced them to relocate.
The gruesome discovery beneath Frank's home remains an unsolved piece of her dark saga, as authorities have yet to conclusively identify the remains found there.
Sources
For further details, the original Wikipedia article can be accessed here.
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Restaurant Murders
Antoinette Frank and Rogers LaCaze commit armed robbery and murder at Kim Anh restaurant, killing three.
Frank Returns to Scene
Frank returns to the crime scene in a police car, pretending to assist while actually trying to eliminate witnesses.
Indictment
Antoinette Frank and Rogers LaCaze are indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury on multiple counts of murder.
Frank's Trial Begins
The trial of Antoinette Frank begins, with the prosecution presenting evidence of her involvement in the murders.
Guilty Verdict
Jury finds Antoinette Frank guilty on all counts of first-degree murder after only 22 minutes of deliberation.
Sentenced to Death
Antoinette Frank is formally sentenced to death for her role in the murders at Kim Anh restaurant.
Father's Skull Found
A human skull with a bullet hole is discovered buried under Frank's house, believed to be her father's remains.
Death Penalty Upheld
The Louisiana Supreme Court upholds Frank's death sentence after her appeal is rejected.
Clemency Denied
Antoinette Frank's appeal for clemency is rejected by Louisiana's pardon board.
On March 4, 1995, Antoinette Frank, a former officer of the New Orleans Police Department, committed a violent armed robbery at a Vietnamese restaurant, resulting in the murders of two family members and NOPD officer Ronald A. Williams II. Frank was aided by her accomplice, drug dealer Rogers LaCaze, and after the incident, she returned to the crime scene in a police patrol car, attempting to feign ignorance of the events. Frank was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death, currently incarcerated at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, where she remains the only woman on the state's death row. Significant evidence includes the discovery of a human skull with a bullet hole buried under her house, believed to be that of her father, who had a history of abusing her.
Antoinette Frank is believed to have killed her father, Adam Frank, who had repeatedly raped her as a child, and speculation surrounds the discovery of a human skull with a bullet hole buried under her house, which was found shortly after her sentencing. Some theorize that her violent behavior may have been influenced by her traumatic past and her relationship with drug dealer Rogers LaCaze, who aided her in the restaurant murders. There is also speculation that Frank's actions were motivated by a desire to cover up her family history and her connection to criminal activities.
The Gruesome Tale of Antoinette Frank: Betrayal in Blue
The Crime
On a chilling night in New Orleans, March 4, 1995, the city was rocked by a crime of unimaginable betrayal. Antoinette Renee Frank, a trusted officer of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), committed a heinous act of murder and robbery at the Kim Anh restaurant. The victims were not just strangers; they included her fellow officer, Ronald A. Williams II, and two members of the Vietnamese-American Vu family, who owned the restaurant. Accompanying Frank was her probable lover, Rogers LaCaze, a known drug dealer. Together, they orchestrated a plan that would end in bloodshed and sorrow.
After the assault, Frank fled the scene, only to return shortly in a police patrol car, feigning innocence. She shockingly approached a survivor who had hidden in a freezer, asking what had transpired, despite being the architect of the chaos.
The Background
Born: April 30, 1971, Opelousas, Louisiana
Occupation: Former Police Officer, New Orleans Police Department (1993–1995)
Criminal Status: Incarcerated at Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women
Convictions: First degree murder (3 counts)
Criminal Penalty: Death
Antoinette Frank's life was marred with suspicion even before her notorious crime. She was believed to be involved in the disappearance and presumed murder of her father, Adam Frank, who had allegedly abused her throughout her childhood. In a grim twist, a human skull with a bullet hole was found beneath her house just a month after her death sentence. Her father had been staying with her shortly before he was reported missing in 1993.
The Police Career
Frank's journey with the NOPD began in early 1993 under contentious circumstances. Despite failing two standard psychiatric evaluations and being caught lying on her application, she was hired due to a critical shortage of officers. The NOPD, plagued by low pay and high turnover, was desperate enough to overlook her discrepancies. Frank graduated from the police academy on February 28, 1993, and began her career, although her performance was consistently underwhelming. She was often described as shy and indecisive, with some colleagues noting bouts of irrational behavior.
A Dangerous Relationship
Frank's professional life took a dark turn when she met Rogers LaCaze. Their paths crossed on November 25, 1994, when LaCaze was shot, and Frank took his statement. What began as a professional interaction soon turned personal, despite LaCaze's reputation as a drug dealer and his involvement in violent incidents. Their relationship raised eyebrows within the department as LaCaze was seen driving Frank's car and even impersonating a police trainee.
Frank maintained her connection with LaCaze, even attempting to buy 9mm ammunition for him the day before the murders. She denied any romantic involvement, though it was later revealed they were intimately involved. This alliance would culminate in the tragic events at Kim Anh.
The Restaurant Murders
On that fateful night, Frank and LaCaze visited the Kim Anh restaurant multiple times, where Frank worked off-duty as a security guard. It was their third visit that proved fatal. Chau Vu, one of the family members, sensed danger and hid the restaurant's money in a microwave before retreating to a cooler with her brother Quoc and an employee. Frank, armed with a stolen key, let herself in and forced the group into the kitchen. LaCaze shot Officer Williams in the neck, leaving him paralyzed before finishing him off with additional shots.
The Vu siblings, Ha and Cuong, were confronted and brutally murdered by Frank after she retrieved the hidden money. Despite the horror, Chau managed to call for help, leading to a dramatic confrontation when Frank returned to the scene, attempting to pose as a responding officer. Chau bravely identified Frank as the murderer to the arriving officers.
The Investigation and Trials
The investigation swiftly led to Frank's arrest and subsequent confession. She and LaCaze were indicted on April 28, 1995. LaCaze was tried first in July and found guilty, largely due to his use of Williams' credit card shortly after the murders, and sentenced to death.
Frank's trial commenced on September 5, 1995. Despite calling no witnesses, the jury needed only 22 minutes to convict her, and 45 minutes the next day to decide on the death penalty. She was formally sentenced on October 20, 1995, solidifying her place on Louisiana's death row.
Aftermath and Legacy
Officer Ronald Williams was laid to rest with honor, his name etched on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The Vu family, after enduring such loss, continued to run their restaurant until Hurricane Katrina forced them to relocate.
The gruesome discovery beneath Frank's home remains an unsolved piece of her dark saga, as authorities have yet to conclusively identify the remains found there.
Sources
For further details, the original Wikipedia article can be accessed here.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Restaurant Murders
Antoinette Frank and Rogers LaCaze commit armed robbery and murder at Kim Anh restaurant, killing three.
Frank Returns to Scene
Frank returns to the crime scene in a police car, pretending to assist while actually trying to eliminate witnesses.
Indictment
Antoinette Frank and Rogers LaCaze are indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury on multiple counts of murder.
Frank's Trial Begins
The trial of Antoinette Frank begins, with the prosecution presenting evidence of her involvement in the murders.
Guilty Verdict
Jury finds Antoinette Frank guilty on all counts of first-degree murder after only 22 minutes of deliberation.
Sentenced to Death
Antoinette Frank is formally sentenced to death for her role in the murders at Kim Anh restaurant.
Father's Skull Found
A human skull with a bullet hole is discovered buried under Frank's house, believed to be her father's remains.
Death Penalty Upheld
The Louisiana Supreme Court upholds Frank's death sentence after her appeal is rejected.
Clemency Denied
Antoinette Frank's appeal for clemency is rejected by Louisiana's pardon board.