CUT OFF - Deputies say a man raped a woman while holding her and her teenage daughter against their will as Tropical Storm Barry inundated parts of south Louisiana over the weekend.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office announced Morgan Ratley, 52, was booked Tuesday after the three-day ordeal.

The mother says Ratley took her and her teenage daughter captive Friday evening, as the storm was approaching the coast, and restrained her to a chair using duct tape. The woman says Ratley also raped her over the weekend and refused to let her leave. They were allegedly held at a house in Cut Off, a community that lies near the Louisiana coast.

The two were finally able to escape Sunday and notified the sheriff's office of the attack.

Deputies later found Ratley and took him into custody. He was booked on charges of first-degree rape, sexual battery, domestic abuse battery and false imprisonment. His bond is set at $135,000.

BATON ROUGE - A convicted sex offender living at a property owned by murdered activist Sadie Roberts-Joseph was arrested by Baton Rouge police overnight.

Police say Ronn Bell, 38, is being charged with first-degree murder. He was initially booked as a fugitive Monday night after he failed to pay a fee related to his sex offender registration.

During a news conference with Baton Rouge Police and a number of other officials, Chief Murphy Paul said homicide detectives worked around the clock to execute this arrest. Her daughter and son were also there thanking the community for their support.

"All my mother ever wanted was for this community to come together," Angela Machen, the daughter of Roberts-Joseph said. "It's ironic that happened in death. What she wanted to happen in life came to fruition in death."

Machen added that the entire family is numb right now.

"She gave her all," Machen said. "Anyone who met my mother knew she gave it her all. And as much as I would like to be home now wallowing in my own grief, I cannot do that to her. She worked so hard. She pushed. She got everything she could out of the 75 years that she lived."

Police confirmed Bell was renting space in a property owned by Roberts-Joseph and said it's believed he killed her because he owed more than $1,200 in back rent. It's unclear if Roberts-Joseph was ever aware of Bell's criminal background.

A 2007 report from the Advocate says Bell pleaded guilty to the sexual battery of a 9-year-old girl. Instead of facing a potential life sentence for aggravated rape, his plea deal allowed him to get out of prison after seven years. 

Roberts-Joseph was found suffocated in the trunk of her car Friday afternoon.

Police did not want to elaborate about the evidence that they collected, but an affidavit for Bell's arrest states DNA evidence was found on the victim.

"We are going to let the evidence dictate where we go," District Attorney Hillar Moore said. "Once we receive that report we will sit down with the family and discuss available options by law and facts."

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President called this loss a tragedy for the community.

"She was one of the standout matriarchs of Baton Rouge," Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said. "She was part of the fabric of Baton Rouge, and that is why you see so many people concerned about her death. We will make her legacy a priority in Baton Rouge and EBR parish."

A vigil is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Odell S. Williams Now & Then Museum of African-American History, which she founded in 2001.

BATON ROUGE - Local law enforcement is looking for a pair of criminal masterminds who stocked up on about $500 worth of Red Bull energy drinks.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office says the heist happened at an Albertsons along Airline Highway around 9:30 Monday morning.

One man was seen waltzing out of the store with 31 cases in total, 16 12-packs and 15 four-packs. Investigators say he also took a dress off a clothing rack and used it to cover up his cache of energizing goods.

Once outside, he loaded the drinks into a black Lexus sedan, license plate WOD209, and hopped in the backseat. Deputies say the car is also reported stolen.

The vehicle was last seen driving on Highland Road toward I-10, but investigators were unable to get a look at the driver.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 225-389-5064.

BATON ROUGE - Authorities have arrested a man following a Monday incident at the courthouse in Baton Rouge.

According to the arrest report, Demetrius Dorty was remanded by a judge. He was in court Monday to answer for a bench warrant. 

While in custody, Dorty slipped out of his handcuffs and left the courthouse. Authorities apprehended him several blocks away.

Dorty was arrested and charged with simple escape.