Sunday, December 10, 2006
How Did Murphy Die?
My grandfather passed away in 2004 under very suspicious cirumstances.I am looking for answers to a lot of questions. Please feel free to comment on any posts with your thoughts or ideas. Thank you.
Saturday, December 9, 2006
July 27,2004
Death of man still a mystery
By Farren Clark Staff Writer
Investigators are trying to determine what caused the death of an 83-year-old man who was found dead in his home Sunday evening, the victim of what they are calling a “suspicious death.” According to a report from the Thibodaux Police Department, Murphy Baye, 1706 Oakley Ave., was found after police received a 911 call from one of Baye’s family members around 5:20 p.m. Sunday. Chief Craig Melancon said Monday that he believed Baye’s death was a homicide but that Baye could have had a heart attack secondary to the attack.
Baye’s body was sent to the Jefferson Parish Forensic Facility Monday to determine the exact cause of death. Melancon said the crime scene and the autopsy findings do not seem to match. “According to the autopsy findings, there was no blunt force trauma,” Melancon said. “The autopsy reports indicate the cause is inconclusive. They’re saying they don’t see any stab or gunshot wounds that would be inconsistent. He has not died of a heart attack even though he was complaining of chest pains. “This gentleman died in a manner that does not completely match between the Jefferson Parish Forensic Facility and the crime scene investigated by the Thibodaux Police Department.
There was a degree of foul play within that home with the apartment in disarray, the amount of blood on the scene and the condition and position of the body.” Melancon said investigators are still awaiting the toxicology reports. “We are awaiting the toxicology reports to show any level of medications. These reports are very important,” Melancon said. Along with the crime scene being kept intact, Melancon said, Baye’s body is being kept for an additional day to determine the cause of death. “We understand the family has lost a loved one,” Melancon said. “We’re working expeditiously to have the body returned to them as timely as possible. Because of the autopsy, we felt it important not only to hold onto the body, but also the crime scene a day longer.”
By Farren Clark Staff Writer
Investigators are trying to determine what caused the death of an 83-year-old man who was found dead in his home Sunday evening, the victim of what they are calling a “suspicious death.” According to a report from the Thibodaux Police Department, Murphy Baye, 1706 Oakley Ave., was found after police received a 911 call from one of Baye’s family members around 5:20 p.m. Sunday. Chief Craig Melancon said Monday that he believed Baye’s death was a homicide but that Baye could have had a heart attack secondary to the attack.
Baye’s body was sent to the Jefferson Parish Forensic Facility Monday to determine the exact cause of death. Melancon said the crime scene and the autopsy findings do not seem to match. “According to the autopsy findings, there was no blunt force trauma,” Melancon said. “The autopsy reports indicate the cause is inconclusive. They’re saying they don’t see any stab or gunshot wounds that would be inconsistent. He has not died of a heart attack even though he was complaining of chest pains. “This gentleman died in a manner that does not completely match between the Jefferson Parish Forensic Facility and the crime scene investigated by the Thibodaux Police Department.
There was a degree of foul play within that home with the apartment in disarray, the amount of blood on the scene and the condition and position of the body.” Melancon said investigators are still awaiting the toxicology reports. “We are awaiting the toxicology reports to show any level of medications. These reports are very important,” Melancon said. Along with the crime scene being kept intact, Melancon said, Baye’s body is being kept for an additional day to determine the cause of death. “We understand the family has lost a loved one,” Melancon said. “We’re working expeditiously to have the body returned to them as timely as possible. Because of the autopsy, we felt it important not only to hold onto the body, but also the crime scene a day longer.”
July 26, 2004
Man, 83, found dead in home
By Farren Clark Staff Writer
An 83-year-old Thibodaux man was found dead in his home Sunday evening, the apparent victim of what police are calling a “suspicious death.” According to a report from the Thibodaux Police Department, Murphy Baye, 1706 Oakley St., was found after police received a 911 call from one of Baye’s family members at about 5:20 p.m. Chief Craig Melancon said he believes the death is a homicide but there could be another cause. “He was complaining with family members about chest pains,” said Melancon.
“Although we do see signs of blunt force trauma and that someone has gone through his residence and either taken money or items, there is a remote possibility that he didn’t die because of blunt force trauma. He may have died of a heart attack secondary to the attack.” Not that it changes the fact that his home was broken into, or even if (the attacker) was let into his home. He was struck about the body by blunt force trauma and he had some health issues. That’s something that we’re looking into,” Melancon said. Melancon said Baye lived owned three apartments .
Baye’s death is being investigated as a homicide pending the results of a forensic autopsy planned to be conducted by the Jefferson Parish Forensic Facility today to determine the exact cause of death. Melancon said further information could not be released until after the autopsy is performed.
By Farren Clark Staff Writer
An 83-year-old Thibodaux man was found dead in his home Sunday evening, the apparent victim of what police are calling a “suspicious death.” According to a report from the Thibodaux Police Department, Murphy Baye, 1706 Oakley St., was found after police received a 911 call from one of Baye’s family members at about 5:20 p.m. Chief Craig Melancon said he believes the death is a homicide but there could be another cause. “He was complaining with family members about chest pains,” said Melancon.
“Although we do see signs of blunt force trauma and that someone has gone through his residence and either taken money or items, there is a remote possibility that he didn’t die because of blunt force trauma. He may have died of a heart attack secondary to the attack.” Not that it changes the fact that his home was broken into, or even if (the attacker) was let into his home. He was struck about the body by blunt force trauma and he had some health issues. That’s something that we’re looking into,” Melancon said. Melancon said Baye lived owned three apartments .
Baye’s death is being investigated as a homicide pending the results of a forensic autopsy planned to be conducted by the Jefferson Parish Forensic Facility today to determine the exact cause of death. Melancon said further information could not be released until after the autopsy is performed.
August 10, 2005
Homicide case goes to grand jury
Liz Hackenburg Staff Writer
Two Thibodaux men accused of killing another man inside his apartment will face a grand jury later this month, Lafourche Parish District Attorney Camille A. “Cam” Morvant II said. Steven Butler, 20, 622 Maple St., and Jeremy Johnson, 21, 420 Victory St., were arrested July 5 for the slaying of Peter Andras Jr., 59, July 1 at his home in the 1600 block of Ridgefield Avenue. The two will go before a Lafourche Parish Grand Jury Aug. 29. The jury could either indict the pair on second-degree murder charges, or find that the evidence presented to them is insufficient to prosecute Butler and Johnson on the charges, Morvant said. In that case, the two might still face lesser charges if Morvant decides action is still warranted.Andras was found lying dead on the floor of his home about 11 p.m. July 1.His death was attributed to a combination of asphyxiation, a heart condition and stab wounds to the upper part of his body. A motive for the slaying has not been determined, but police found evidence that Andras’ home had been burglarized and that he might have known his attackers, according to police reports at the time of his death. No signs of forced entry were found at Andras’ home. Police were notified that something was wrong from a person who saw something at the apartment that she thought was a medical emergency, the reports said. Police did not divulge more details about the person’s discovery. Thibodaux Police Chief Craig Melancon said in July that Johnson had confessed to the killing, but would not say whether Butler confessed. Andras was a retired Nicholls State University maintenance worker who was known for his generous ways.Police indicated that his assailants might have taken advantage of Andras’ trusting nature the night he died.
Melancon said all three slain men had similar acquaintances and died in similar manners.He said the men were “very friendly and had a lot of people going in and out of their homes.”Butler and Johnson are being held at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. Johnson’s bond is set at $100,000, Butler’s at $500,000.
Liz Hackenburg Staff Writer
Two Thibodaux men accused of killing another man inside his apartment will face a grand jury later this month, Lafourche Parish District Attorney Camille A. “Cam” Morvant II said. Steven Butler, 20, 622 Maple St., and Jeremy Johnson, 21, 420 Victory St., were arrested July 5 for the slaying of Peter Andras Jr., 59, July 1 at his home in the 1600 block of Ridgefield Avenue. The two will go before a Lafourche Parish Grand Jury Aug. 29. The jury could either indict the pair on second-degree murder charges, or find that the evidence presented to them is insufficient to prosecute Butler and Johnson on the charges, Morvant said. In that case, the two might still face lesser charges if Morvant decides action is still warranted.Andras was found lying dead on the floor of his home about 11 p.m. July 1.His death was attributed to a combination of asphyxiation, a heart condition and stab wounds to the upper part of his body. A motive for the slaying has not been determined, but police found evidence that Andras’ home had been burglarized and that he might have known his attackers, according to police reports at the time of his death. No signs of forced entry were found at Andras’ home. Police were notified that something was wrong from a person who saw something at the apartment that she thought was a medical emergency, the reports said. Police did not divulge more details about the person’s discovery. Thibodaux Police Chief Craig Melancon said in July that Johnson had confessed to the killing, but would not say whether Butler confessed. Andras was a retired Nicholls State University maintenance worker who was known for his generous ways.Police indicated that his assailants might have taken advantage of Andras’ trusting nature the night he died.
Andras’ death bears similarities to two other
unsolved deaths in the city. Murphy Baye, 83, was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his home at 1706 Oakley Ave. in July 2004. Eddie Filce was killed in 1993 at his home about 11 houses away from Baye’s home. Baye had a heart condition, family members said last year. No signs of blunt force or trauma were found on his body, but investigators found blood inside his ransacked home and maintain that his death was suspicious. Arrests were never made in Baye’s or Filce’s death.
Melancon said all three slain men had similar acquaintances and died in similar manners.He said the men were “very friendly and had a lot of people going in and out of their homes.”Butler and Johnson are being held at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. Johnson’s bond is set at $100,000, Butler’s at $500,000.
July 07, 2005
Here is a story in the Daily Comet about a murder that occurred almost one year after my grandfather died.
Victim had big heart and an open door
Liz Hackenburg Staff writer
Lifelong Thibodaux resident Peter O’Neil Andras Jr. had a kind and generous spirit รณ so much so that he made it a habit to leave his door unlocked and his home open. “He was constantly giving what he had to others,” said Francis O’Neil Andras, Peter Andras’ brother, who spoke on behalf of his three brothers and 91-year-old mother, who he said is taking her son’s death “very hard.” That benevolent personality might have led Peter Andras into harm’s way Friday night. The 59-year-old apartment complex manager was found dead in his home at 1611 Ridgefield Ave., a victim of an apparent homicide, one that police said could be linked to two other unsolved slayings close to the same area. Peter Andras’ death was attributed to a combination of asphyxiation, a heart condition and stab wounds to the upper portion of his body. He was found lying on the floor when police arrived about 11 p.m. Friday. A motive for the slaying has not been confirmed, but police found evidence that the home had been burglarized and that Andras might have known his attackers. Andras’s home bore no sign of forced entry, but police said emergency responders were summoned by a concerned citizen who saw something suspicious that she thought was a medical emergency. Peter Andras was single and lived alone, his brother said. The retired Nicholls State University maintenance worker, who had put in more than 30 years of service at the school, was known to family and friends as “O’Neil Jr.” or just “Jr.,” Francis Andras said. “He liked people. Every time I went there and knocked on the door, he said, 'The door is open. Come in.’ This is very difficult for us.”Peter Andras, an avid coin and stamp collector, loved to listen to the police scanner he kept in his home. And he kept active in the community, his brother said. Peter Andras was a commissioner at local polls during elections and was a member of Woodmen of the World. His brother said Peter Andras had hung a flag outside his door in preparation for the Fourth of July and was already trying to get his family to decide on plans for that holiday and Labor Day. “He was very patriotic,” Francis Andras said. Jeremy Johnson, 21, and Steven Butler, 20, both of Thibodaux, have been arrested and charged with second degree murder as a result of an investigation into the slaying. Thibodaux Police chief Craig Melancon said Johnson confessed to the killing, but would not say whether Butler confessed. Andras’ death bears similarities to two others that happened nearby, Melancon said.
Another unsolved slaying that might be related to the two most recent deaths took place in 1993 about 11 houses away from Baye’s home when Eddie Filce was killed in his home. A suspect in Filce’s death never came to light. Andras, Baye and Filce had similar acquaintances and they died in similar ways, said the chief. “All three involved older gentlemen who were very friendly and had a lot of people going in and out of their homes,” Melancon said.
Victim had big heart and an open door
Liz Hackenburg Staff writer
Lifelong Thibodaux resident Peter O’Neil Andras Jr. had a kind and generous spirit รณ so much so that he made it a habit to leave his door unlocked and his home open. “He was constantly giving what he had to others,” said Francis O’Neil Andras, Peter Andras’ brother, who spoke on behalf of his three brothers and 91-year-old mother, who he said is taking her son’s death “very hard.” That benevolent personality might have led Peter Andras into harm’s way Friday night. The 59-year-old apartment complex manager was found dead in his home at 1611 Ridgefield Ave., a victim of an apparent homicide, one that police said could be linked to two other unsolved slayings close to the same area. Peter Andras’ death was attributed to a combination of asphyxiation, a heart condition and stab wounds to the upper portion of his body. He was found lying on the floor when police arrived about 11 p.m. Friday. A motive for the slaying has not been confirmed, but police found evidence that the home had been burglarized and that Andras might have known his attackers. Andras’s home bore no sign of forced entry, but police said emergency responders were summoned by a concerned citizen who saw something suspicious that she thought was a medical emergency. Peter Andras was single and lived alone, his brother said. The retired Nicholls State University maintenance worker, who had put in more than 30 years of service at the school, was known to family and friends as “O’Neil Jr.” or just “Jr.,” Francis Andras said. “He liked people. Every time I went there and knocked on the door, he said, 'The door is open. Come in.’ This is very difficult for us.”Peter Andras, an avid coin and stamp collector, loved to listen to the police scanner he kept in his home. And he kept active in the community, his brother said. Peter Andras was a commissioner at local polls during elections and was a member of Woodmen of the World. His brother said Peter Andras had hung a flag outside his door in preparation for the Fourth of July and was already trying to get his family to decide on plans for that holiday and Labor Day. “He was very patriotic,” Francis Andras said. Jeremy Johnson, 21, and Steven Butler, 20, both of Thibodaux, have been arrested and charged with second degree murder as a result of an investigation into the slaying. Thibodaux Police chief Craig Melancon said Johnson confessed to the killing, but would not say whether Butler confessed. Andras’ death bears similarities to two others that happened nearby, Melancon said.
Murphy Baye, 83, was found dead in his home at 1706 Oakley Ave. in July 2004. His death was not ruled a homicide because there were no signs of trauma from blunt force or stab or gunshot wounds. Based on autopsy results, a massive heart attack was initially suspected in his death. Baye had a heart condition and had complained of chest pain, family members said last year.But blood was found inside Baye’s ransacked home, leading investigators to classify his death as suspicious. An arrest was never made in the case.
Melancon said it was possible that Baye had a heart attack from the stress of an altercation inside his home, or that he died from natural causes and someone burglarized his residence, but investigators remain unconvinced that he died of natural causes.
Another unsolved slaying that might be related to the two most recent deaths took place in 1993 about 11 houses away from Baye’s home when Eddie Filce was killed in his home. A suspect in Filce’s death never came to light. Andras, Baye and Filce had similar acquaintances and they died in similar ways, said the chief. “All three involved older gentlemen who were very friendly and had a lot of people going in and out of their homes,” Melancon said.
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