Jeff Davis 8

A Gripping Tale of Unsolved Murders in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

The Jeff Davis 8, often referred to as the Jennings 8, is a haunting saga that revolves around a series of unsolved murders that shook the small community of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. Between 2005 and 2009, the bodies of eight women were discovered in the murky swamps and canals surrounding Jennings, Louisiana. Most of these remains were in advanced states of decomposition, which posed significant challenges in determining the exact causes of death. This case exemplifies not just a tragic loss of life but also a complex web of connections, investigations, and allegations that still reverberate through the community today.

The Victims

The series of murders began with the discovery of Loretta Lewis, just 28 years old, whose body was found floating in a river by a fisherman on May 20, 2005. This grim finding sparked what would become a terrifying pattern. Other victims include:

• Ernestine Marie Daniels Patterson, 30
• Kristen Gary Lopez, 21
• Whitnei Dubois, 26
• Laconia "Muggy" Brown, 23
• Crystal Shay Benoit Zeno, 24
• Brittney Gary, 17
• Necole Guillory, 26 (the last body found off Interstate 10 in 2009)

What’s chilling is that many of these women were interconnected. For instance, Kristen Gary Lopez and Brittney Gary were cousins, while Gary had been living with Crystal Benoit shortly before her death. These relationships deepen the complexity of the case, and they raise questions about the lives these women led.

Causes of Death

The investigation into the causes of death revealed some harrowing truths. Both Patterson and Brown had their throats slit, while the other victims were found in such advanced states of decay that medical examiners could only speculate about their causes of death. Asphyxia was suspected in some cases, adding another layer of horror to the narrative.

Connections Among Victims and Suspects

Author Ethan Brown, who penned the book Murder in the Bayou in 2016, proposed that there were significant links between the victims, suspects, and even the investigators involved. Most of the victims were not just acquaintances; they were friends and family members who shared backgrounds marked by poverty, mental illness, drug abuse, and sex work. Intriguingly, all these women had served as informants for local law enforcement concerning the drug trade, providing crucial information about other Jeff Davis 8 victims before their own tragic ends.

A particularly dark twist in this narrative is the shooting of a drug dealer named Leonard Crochet in 2005, an event that many of the victims witnessed. Among them was Kristen Lopez, who was present when police shot Crochet, a controversial incident that led to a grand jury investigation. Despite a Louisiana State Police inquiry concluding that Crochet was unarmed, there were whispers among witnesses suggesting that law enforcement may have been involved in the murders of the women due to their knowledge of the shooting.

Investigation

In December 2008, a multi-agency task force was assembled, comprising 14 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to tackle these chilling murders. They were ostensibly on the hunt for a serial killer. However, Ethan Brown disputes this serial killing hypothesis, suggesting a much deeper and more disturbing web of connections. Family members of the victims have gone so far as to allege that local police might be complicit in the murders.

Allegations of Misconduct

As the investigation unfolded, shocking allegations emerged, painting a grim picture of potential misconduct by local law enforcement. Task force reports included witness interviews suggesting that some local officers may have been involved in the murders. Statements from two female inmates indicated that suspects were working with the sheriff's office to dispose of evidence related to Lopez's case. Unfortunately, the sergeant who took these statements faced termination, and the allegations were largely ignored.

Warren Gary, the chief criminal investigator of the sheriff's office, found himself at the center of controversy after being accused of purchasing a truck believed to have been used to transport a body for evidence disposal. The situation escalated to the point where, in 2009, the sheriff ordered all investigators working on the Jeff Davis 8 case to undergo DNA swabbing, a move that raised eyebrows and fueled speculation. However, the sheriff's office has remained tight-lipped about the results of these tests.

Suspects

Four individuals have faced arrest or warrants in connection with the Jeff Davis 8 case. Two were held on murder charges for several months but were ultimately released due to evidence issues. Among the suspects is Frankie Richard, a local strip club owner and suspected drug dealer. He admitted to being a crack addict and claimed to have had sexual relationships with most of the victims, and he was reportedly among the last to see Kristen Lopez alive. Witnesses have also tied Richard to the sheriff's office, and the female inmates suggested that he was involved in the disposal of evidence.

Byron Chad Jones and Lawrence Nixon, a cousin of victim Laconia Brown, were briefly charged with second-degree murder in the case of Ernestine Patterson. However, investigators didn’t test the alleged crime scene until 15 months after Patterson's murder, ultimately finding no evidence of blood.

In Media

The Jeff Davis 8 murders have captured public attention and inspired extensive media coverage over the years, highlighting the case's complexity and the ongoing search for justice. Notable mentions include:

• The 2010 novel The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke, which is set against the backdrop of these murders.
• A 2011 investigative podcast series titled Behind the Yellow Tape that explored the case in-depth.
• A 2012 episode of Dark Minds, featuring interviews with individuals connected to the case.
• Ethan Brown's compelling 2016 book Murder in the Bayou: Who Killed the Women Known as the Jeff Davis 8?
• The 2019 two-part documentary series Death in the Bayou on Investigation Discovery.
• The 2019 five-part series Murder in the Bayou on Showtime.

Interestingly, despite speculation, the Jeff Davis 8 cases were not the inspiration for the first season of HBO's True Detective, according to series creator Nic Pizzolatto.

Conclusion

The Jeff Davis 8 remain a haunting mystery, a stark reminder of the lives lost in the shadows of the bayou. The intertwining stories of these women and the chilling implications of law enforcement misconduct continue to provoke discussion and investigation. As of now, the truth remains buried beneath the murky waters of Jefferson Davis Parish, waiting for someone to unearth it.

Sources

1. Robertson, Campbell (2 January 2010). "8 Deaths in a Small Town, and Much Unease". New York Times.
2. Brown, Ethan (14 August 2014). "Who Killed the Jeff Davis 8?". Medium.
3. Drell, Cady (2016-09-27). "Dark Truth Behind 8 Sex Workers Murdered in the Bayou". Rolling Stone.
4. Crosley, Hillary (4 February 2014). "In Louisiana, 8 Women Were Murdered and Cops May Be Their Killers". Jezebel.
5. Perlstein, Mike. "Jennings 8: Unsolved murders haunt town, police". WWLTV.
6. Schmidt, Theresa (7 February 2014). "Jeff Davis 8: Why A.G. Buddy Caldwell doesn't intervene". KPLCtv.
7. Wolcott, James (24 February 2014). "The Jung and the Restless". Vanity Fair.
8. "In the matter of Warren Gary". Louisiana Board of Ethics.
9. "A Serial Killer in Jennings". 30 July 2011.
10. Knox, James (2012-02-29). Brutal Bayou (Documentary, Crime).
11. "Books: Murder in the Bayou". Ethan-Brown.com.
12. True Crime Tuesday: What Happened to the Jennings 8? (Talk-Show), Mehmet Oz, Katie Couric, Harpo Productions, Oz Works, Zo Co Productions, 2018-04-24.
13. Death in the Bayou: The Jennings 8 (TV Series 2019– ).
14. "Murder in the Bayou": TV Review. The Hollywood Reporter. 2019-09-13.
15. "The Jennings Eight, Part 1: "True Detective" Brought to Life in the Louisiana Bayou".
16. "The Jennings Eight, Part 2: The Unmatched Incompetence of the Jennings Police Department".