66°
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
7 Day Forecast
Follow our weather team on social media

The WBRZ Investigative Unit is here for you.

We are committed to serving our community. Watch our in-depth Investigative Unit reports throughout the day on WBRZ.com and the 6pm WBRZ News 2 newscast.  Check back daily for new reports and essential information from our team.

Send tips to investigate@wbrz.com

WBR Sheriff: 'No stone unturned' in detention center drug deaths investigation

PORT ALLEN — Following the suspected drug-related deaths of four inmates in the West Baton Rouge Detention Center this year, the Sheriff's Office is trying to determine how drugs keep getting inside the facility.

"We think it's high for a typical year," said Sheriff Jeff Bergeron, about the number of deaths.

Bergeron says he's reassigned deputies to the jail to provide additional security. 

"In the last month or so, we've done numerous facility shakedowns which have resulted in about nine inmate arrests on drug-related offenses, including the seizure of some contraband within the facility," he said. 

Though they've seized plenty of drugs, including mojo, a synthetic marijuana typically sprayed onto paper, more inmates have died.

Since March, Ryan Moreau, Unterio Lewis, Jeremy Paul and Nicholas Henderson have all died of suspected overdoses.

Henderson was charged with providing the drugs that killed Paul back in August. Henderson was found dead this weekend.

"Right now, we don't know exactly, but we are investigating thoroughly to try to find those answers out. Leaving no stone unturned."

Bergeron says the deaths have led to several correctional officers being placed on leave as they investigate.

"We don't have any information that it's a correctional officer bringing in the drugs. We're looking at all angles, investigating all leads," he said.

While they investigate how the drugs are getting inside, they've begun upgrading the security cameras for the first time since 1997. 

The facility will have a body scanner installed to screen the trustees, who are inmates trusted to leave the grounds for work.

Bergeron says they will also be installing a new warden, as the current one is retiring after nearly 40 years.

Grid
List
PORT ALLEN — Following the suspected drug-related deaths of four inmates in the West Baton Rouge Detention Center this year,... More >>
3 months ago Tuesday, September 09 2025 Sep 9, 2025 Tuesday, September 09, 2025 7:24:00 PM CDT September 09, 2025 in News
PORT ALLEN — Smuggled-in drugs continue to cause serious problems in what is supposed to be a secure facility. ... More >>
3 months ago Monday, September 08 2025 Sep 8, 2025 Monday, September 08, 2025 7:22:00 PM CDT September 08, 2025 in News
BATON ROUGE — Scotlandville Magnet High School Principal Paul Jackson, who has worked at the school for more than a... More >>
3 months ago Friday, September 05 2025 Sep 5, 2025 Friday, September 05, 2025 10:18:00 AM CDT September 05, 2025 in News
BATON ROUGE - A woman claims she was sexually assaulted by Donald Steele earlier this year. WBRZ has agreed... More >>
3 months ago Wednesday, September 03 2025 Sep 3, 2025 Wednesday, September 03, 2025 7:25:00 PM CDT September 03, 2025 in News
WHITE CASTLE — White Castle Fire Department Fire Chief John Marque allegedly battered one of the department's firefighters, White Castle... More >>
3 months ago Tuesday, September 02 2025 Sep 2, 2025 Tuesday, September 02, 2025 9:37:00 AM CDT September 02, 2025 in News
BATON ROUGE - In a little more than a week, former Baton Rouge police officer Donald Steele will be sentenced... More >>
3 months ago Sunday, August 31 2025 Aug 31, 2025 Sunday, August 31, 2025 6:37:00 PM CDT August 31, 2025 in News
ROSELAND - A text message is how the majority of employees at Smitty's found out they no longer had jobs.... More >>
4 months ago Tuesday, August 26 2025 Aug 26, 2025 Tuesday, August 26, 2025 6:44:00 PM CDT August 26, 2025 in News
ROSELAND — While the public waits for an explanation into what caused a massive explosion at Smitty's in Roseland, a... More >>
4 months ago Monday, August 25 2025 Aug 25, 2025 Monday, August 25, 2025 6:55:00 PM CDT August 25, 2025 in News
VILLE PLATTE - The WBRZ Investigative Unit has been looking into how a recently released Elayn Hunt inmate ended up... More >>
4 months ago Monday, August 18 2025 Aug 18, 2025 Monday, August 18, 2025 6:53:00 PM CDT August 18, 2025 in News
BATON ROUGE — The family of Treylin Deville was told their loved one was being brought to a group home... More >>
4 months ago Thursday, August 14 2025 Aug 14, 2025 Thursday, August 14, 2025 3:47:00 PM CDT August 14, 2025 in News
A man who was released from Elayn Hunt Correctional Center was found dead a day later, 80 miles from where... More >>
4 months ago Wednesday, August 13 2025 Aug 13, 2025 Wednesday, August 13, 2025 6:59:00 PM CDT August 13, 2025 in News
PORT ALLEN — West Baton Rouge Parish officials said Wednesday that a former mayor of Port Allen who once served... More >>
4 months ago Wednesday, August 13 2025 Aug 13, 2025 Wednesday, August 13, 2025 3:40:00 PM CDT August 13, 2025 in News

News tip form

Desktop News

Click to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.
Radar
7 Days