Group takes to streets

• By JASON BROWN
• Advocate Acadiana bureau
• Published: Oct 31, 2009 - Page: 1BA

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JENNINGS — Carrying signs and shivering in the cold rain, a small group of family members, friends and concerned residents marched in Jennings on Friday to raise awareness of the unsolved serial killings of eight women.

A group of about 20 marched three blocks through the rain from Founders Park to the courthouse.

A few quietly carried simple handmade signs, bearing the victims’ names and phrases such as “Justice for our beautiful angels.” There, a preacher led the group in a prayer while they huddled near the entrance.

“The march is for our angels, our girls,” said Mike Dubois, brother to Whitnei Dubois, 26, who was the fourth victim. “It’s a thing to show that we’re united as a community.”

The killings began in May 2005 when a fisherman found the body of Loretta Lynn Chaisson Lewis, 28, floating in a canal in rural Jefferson Davis Parish.

Since then, seven other women, all ranging in age from 17 to 29, have been found dumped in either canals or along roadways.

The most recent victim, Necole Jean Guillory, 27, was discovered off of Interstate 10 in nearby Acadia Parish.

“We’re concerned,” Dubois said. “We want to see justice before any other families have to go through what we’re going through.”

After four years, “We don’t see any headway (in the investigation),” Dubois said.

He was joined at the march by family members of Kristen Gary Lopez, 21, the third victim, and Laconia Shontel “Muggy” Brown, 23, who was the fifth.

“Whitnei was a beautiful person — a human being — and she didn’t deserve to die like she did nor did any of the other girls,” Dubois said.

Bristol Chambers, 23, marched in support of Laconia Brown, whom she called a life-long friend and a happy-go lucky person who always wore a smile.

“I’ve never known her to have any enemies,” he said.