Man testifies about rape, slaying

• By ROY PITCHFORD
• Advocate Westside bureau
• Published: Jun 6, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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PORT ALLEN — While admitting his own involvement in a brutal attack on a transient couple in 2006, James E. Nelson II gave jurors hearing evidence in the first-degree murder trial of Michael Garcia on Thursday graphic descriptions of the killing, sexual attacks, robbery and kidnapping that took place.

Nelson, 24, of Gibsonton, Fla., spent several hours on the witness stand, giving gruesome testimony against Garcia, 29, of Lansing, Mich., in the slaying of Matthew Millican in dark woods just off La. 415 in Port Allen, and about the repeated rapes of Millican’s woman companion.

Nelson, who testified wearing a suit of prison stripes issued by the West Baton Rouge Parish Jail, was introduced by his real name, but was referred to throughout the testimony by his nickname, “Fat Boy.”

Early in his testimony, Nelson said he was offered no special deals to testify, though Assistant District Attorney Tony Clayton did say that that when Nelson faces prosecution, he would ask the judge to take note of Nelson’s cooperation.

On the stand, Nelson readily admitted that he initiated the sexual attacks on Millican’s companion, was the last of the three to cease the sexual activity, and participated in the repeated rapes during a period of several hours.

He also admitted striking Millican, who was apparently having a seizure at the time, and said he was present when Millican was robbed and when he was killed. Nelson related how he shoved Millican’s bound body further into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in the hope that it would float away and not be found for some time.

Nelson began his testimony by saying he was present when Garcia killed a woman in Florida just weeks before the crimes in Port Allen.

He said he joined Garcia and Garcia’s brother, Daniel, in going back to the house two days after the woman was slain and stealing jewelry and her car, which he said Michael Garcia later burned.

He said that when news stories were printed and broadcast about the woman’s murder and about police finding the burned car, he and the Garcia brothers decided to head west.

He said they hitchhiked to Louisiana, where they stole an old motor home in Slidell, but they had to abandon it when it broke down at Ramah. Nelson said the three hitchhiked back to Port Allen, where they met Millican, his companion and Robert Peterson, always referred to during the trial as “Hollywood.”

Peterson was scheduled to testify today.

Nelson said he and the Garcias drank beer with Hollywood and the transient couple, and said he and the Garcias left when the others went behind a motel to sleep outdoors.

Nelson said he and the Garcias surprised the couple as they slept and then took them into nearby woods, being careful not to awaken Hollywood. He said they placed pillowcases over the heads of the couple and took their bedding, thinking Hollywood would believe they had awakened and departed.