Tagged News

• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: DOC confirms death of 33-year-old Angola inmate Play Video

  June 4, 2026 1:18 PM

  ANGOLA — Sources tell the WBRZ Investigative Unit that Patrick Jones, 33, who was serving a life sentence for armed robbery, may have been killed by another inmate on Tuesday. West Feliciana Sheriff Brian Spillman said his office is investigating but would not confirm whether it is a homicide... more »

• Elayn Hunt employee arrested, fired after allegedly having sex with an inmate Play Video

  May 21, 2026 12:37 PM

  ST. GABRIEL — An Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employee has been arrested and fired after having sex with an inmate, officials told WBRZ on Thursday. According to arrest documents, on Thursday morning, an inmate was found to be inside an employee-only bathroom with a correctional officer, later identified as... more »

• State corrections officials say a 37-year-old Angola inmate has died; an investigation is underway Play Video

  April 6, 2026 12:35 PM

  ANGOLA — An inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary has died, Louisiana Department of Corrections officials said Monday. Walter Davis, a 37-year-old Angola inmate, was pronounced dead on Sunday, April 5. His death is still under investigation and an autopsy has been ordered. WBRZ has reported on... more »

• Deputies: Now-fired Elayn Hunt employee arrested for communicating with inmate over phone Play Video

  April 1, 2026 1:58 PM

  ST. GABRIEL — A since-fired Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employee was arrested after it was uncovered that she was illegally communicating with an inmate via a cell phone, arrest documents show. According to Iberville Parish deputies, a cell phone was seized from an inmate at Elayn Hunt on March... more »

• Early-release window could double to 120 days for terminally ill inmates Play Video

  April 1, 2026 12:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE – A House committee voted 7-0 to advance a bill Tuesday that would allow terminally ill inmates to be released up to 120 days before their expected death, doubling the current 60-day window for early release. Under the current statute, considerations for early release apply only in... more »

• Department of Corrections: 50-year-old Elayn Hunt Correctional Center inmate dies

  April 1, 2026 10:06 AM

  ST. GABRIEL — A 50-year-old inmate died at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, Department of Corrections officials said. Paul Gauthreaux died Tuesday, March 31, officials said. According to DOC, Gauthreaux was serving a 49-year sentence for armed robbery and was projected to be released in July 2054. Gauthreaux's cause... more »

• Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employee arrested on malfeasance charges; DOC says she has been fired Play Video

  March 26, 2026 10:02 AM

  ST. GABRIEL — An Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employee was arrested on malfeasance in office charges. Trenda Parker, 46, was arrested and booked into the Iberville Parish Jail on Wednesday. Parker was hired at the correctional facility in November 2025, the Department of Corrections said. She was fired... more »

• Corrections major at Angola on leave after arrest on contraband charges Play Video

  March 11, 2026 10:34 AM

  ANGOLA — A Louisiana State Penitentiary employee was placed on leave after he was arrested on contraband charges, the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections said. Joseph McNeely, 29, was arrested on March 2 by the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with introduction to contraband. McNeely,... more »

• WBRZ Investigative Unit: Elayn Hunt lieutenant arrested, allegedly didn't report inmate's cell phone Play Video

  March 4, 2026 11:53 AM

  ST. GABRIEL - An Elayn Hunt lieutenant has been accused of not reporting that an inmate had a cell phone inside the facility, according to WBRZ sources. Paula LeBlanc, 40, was booked into the Iberville Parish Jail for malfeasance in office on Wednesday. Sources told WBRZ that LeBlanc... more »

• Louisiana Corrections again cited for holding inmates past release dates, advocates say it's enough Play Video

  February 10, 2026 7:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE - For the fifth year in a row, the Department of Corrections has been called out for keeping inmates in custody beyond their release dates. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office released a report about the Department of Corrections that says the department has been keeping inmates in... more »

• Two Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employees arrested on malfeasance charges, two more placed on leave Play Video

  February 4, 2026 1:28 PM

  ST. GABRIEL — Two Elayn Hunt Correctional Center employees were arrested on malfeasance charges, and two others were placed on leave, the Louisiana Department of Corrections said Wednesday. The Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office arrested registered nurse Canecia Burrell and Sgt. Christiana Hardin. Burrell worked with DOC since August 2025,... more »

• WBRZ Investigative Unit: Three dead since Sunday at Elayn Hunt, cause unknown at this time Play Video

  January 28, 2026 6:54 PM

  ST. GABRIEL - Three people have died at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center since Sunday, Department of Corrections officials told WBRZ. According to the Department of Corrections, two people died on Jan. 25 and one person died on Jan. 27. Officials said they could not provide identification or a cause... more »

• WBRZ Investigative Unit: Angola inmate dies over weekend; West Feliciana Sheriff says investigation underway Play Video

  January 26, 2026 11:51 AM

  ANGOLA — The death of an inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary that happened over the weekend is under investigation, West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Brian Spillman told the Investigative Unit on Monday. Harold Brooks, a 37-year-old Angola inmate from Lafayette, died Saturday. According to the sheriff, the death was... more »

• Louisiana DOC remembers first Black warden on his passing

  August 4, 2023 12:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The first Black warden in the Louisiana Department of Corrections system has died. The DOC on Friday announced the passing of Johnnie Jones, who retired in 2006 after more than 30 years with the agency. In 2018, Jones received his Ph.D. from LSU at the... more »

• Revealing audit describes how Louisiana's prisons responded to pandemic

  June 28, 2021 10:12 AM

  BATON ROUGE - According to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor's office, a recent analysis of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections revealed that while the DOC performed well in relation to certain areas of pandemic-safety, administrative challenges and a failure to collect much-needed COVID-related information proved to be problematic.... more »

• Louisiana's Dept of Corrections reports sixth virus-related death among employees

  January 26, 2021 5:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE - As Louisiana continues to reel under the impact of novel coronavirus, the state's Department of Corrections reports that since December, six of its employees have lost their lives due to COVID-19. The most recent death, reported in January, was that of an employee with Louisiana State... more »

• Angola cadet arrested, suspected of smuggling marijuana into prison

  May 14, 2020 6:21 PM

  WEST FELICIANA PARISH - An Angola corrections cadet is facing drug charges after allegedly smuggling Marijuana into the prsion. The Department of Corrections says they found Dexter Champagne , 58, with marijuana inside a drop point within the prison as well as his car. It totaled almost a quarter... more »

• Escaped prisoner was serving manslaughter sentence

  January 1, 2013 11:45 AM

  ST. GABRIEL - Authorities said the woman who escaped overnight from a state prison in St. Gabriel was serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter, and offered a reward for information leading to her capture. St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said 33-year-old Keana Barnes climbed over a fence at... more »