GUILTY LA - Denis, 71, & Suzy Duplantier, 70, murdered, Baton Rouge, 18 Oct 2015 *arrests*

Police: 'Abducted' Baton Rouge couple found dead in Hammond
Posted: Oct 20, 2015 9:54 AM CST -Updated: Oct 20, 2015 12:18 PM CST
Posted by WAFB Staff

HAMMOND, LA (WAFB) - A missing Baton Rouge couple was found dead in Hammond, according to police.

The Baton Rouge Police Department confirmed the two bodies found in a vehicle at a truck stop near I-12 in Hammond were a man and woman "abducted" from Baton Rouge. They were found at the Petro truck stop on Southwest Railroad Avenue.

[...]
Police in Baton Rouge said they received a call around 10:15 p.m. Monday to make a welfare check at a home on Highland Road near Lee Drive. Responding officers reported finding the house open. They added the homeowners and their vehicle were missing.

"Investigators at that point called ONSTAR about the missing vehicle and ONSTAR was able to give them a location," Lt. Jonny Dunnam, a spokesman for BRPD, said. "That location was in Hammond. They contacted Hammond police and Hammond police went to the scene, where the vehicle was located and they have since taken over the investigation."

The couple is identified in the article, but LE hasn't officially released their names.

Two Baton Rouge residents found dead at Hammond truck stop, their Highland Road home open and vehicle missing
Heidi R. Kinchen | and Danielle maddox
Oct. 20, 2015; 10:51 a.m.

[...]
Baton Rouge police notified Hammond police who found a pickup truck in a corner of the truck stop, parked in an area where it would not be noticed, said Lt. Vincent Giannoble of the Hammond Police Department.

He said Hammond officers found the bodies of a man and woman inside the pickup which belonged to the couple who lived at 5020 Highland Road.


The television news is reporting that the door to the house was wide open when LE arrived to do the welfare check, and a safe inside the house was found open.

The couple has several children and grandchildren.

I read about this earlier today. Will be interesting to know what caused their deaths. Their home was on Highland Road, and that entire stretch is pretty much very high end real estate.

ETA: wondering how police know they were abducted? Maybe cameras in the home?

Update: Police identify victims of double homicide as Denis and Suzanne Duplantier of Baton Rouge

http://theadvocate.com/news/13754880-65/two-baton-rouge-residents-found

Denis and Suzanne Duplantier were strangled after they were kidnapped from their Baton Rouge home Monday night and their bodies were found later inside a pickup truck at a Hammond truck stop parking lot, Hammond police said Tuesday.

[...]
Devall said Tuesday afternoon that investigators in Baton Rouge did find a safe open, and found things out of place inside the home.

Devall said surveillance video showed other people were involved in the abduction, and that authorities were on the lookout for a 2007 white Chevrolet pickup seen in the area.

http://www.wbrz.com/news/police-say-br-couple-kidnapped-strangled-left-in-hammond

Police say white Chevy truck has a Louisiana license plate C287533

Police: two trucks caught on video pulling into truck stop on Sunday afternoon, white truck left about 10 mins later.

https://twitter.com/BrettBuffington/status/656540614427721728

Thank you Bessie. Hopefully with available video a quick conclusion can come in this case. Have to wonder why they were targeted.

JMO

It could be random, but I think it was likely someone who had been in their home, and knew there was a safe. I wonder if they had any work done on the home recently, or if any repairmen visited the house. It's so horrible to think a perfect stranger can walk in your house and kill you in such a horrible way. Couldn't they have just taken the money and left them alive! Then you have to wonder if someone wanted them dead, and staged it to look like a robbery.

ETA: This is from a 2005 article on the LSU website entitled "Lasting Love". So sad to read now. They lived in that home for 39 years, and were married 48 years.

"After 29 years in their Highland Road home, Suzanne Duplantier still enjoys her life there."

“People say I must have gotten a lobotomy the day I got married to be able to put up with him,” she said. “But really he has a heart of gold, he’s a good dancer — and I may not have always liked him, but I’ve always loved him.”

http://www.lsureveille.com/lasting-love/article_2921926b-d442-5f77-afef-e2f377326376.html

Seems as though LEO know who the suspects are

"It is believed that the victims possibly knew the suspect. Police have the identity of the two people wanted for questioning, but are not releasing the names at this time."

"Officials are searching for a white 2007 Chevrolet truck with license plate number C287533. They are looking for two people of interest in the case."

http://www.ksla.com/story/30305968/police-abducted-baton-rouge-couple-were-strangled-to-death

Denis and Suzanne Duplantier

http://www.ksla.com/story/30305968/police-abducted-baton-rouge-couple-were-strangled-to-death

It would be great to know who that plate belongs to. In the case of Hailey Owens our sleuthers were on it and LEO was waiting for the suspect and killer at his home when he got there.

In all fairness I should add that the killer had already been home and killed her, but went to Wal Mart to get bleach for the cleanup. Yet was apprehended 3 hours after her abduction. It does show me that the more the public knows the quicker an outcome.

ETA

JMO

My gosh, they were 69 and 70 (doing the math based on ages in the "Lasting Love" story Bessie posted above). When I heard of a missing couple, I was assuming teenagers, early 20-somethings, maybe people mixed up in nefarious business. The demographics of this case really shock me. I suspect that there will be an arrest or a POI soon, since the couple possibly knew the suspect.

It just makes me want to stay in my house and not let any more people into my life. So scary.

I was in Hammond all weekend, but not over by hammond square mall. Such a shame... Poor family.

Here's a link to the press conference:

http://www.wafb.com/story/30305968/police-abducted-baton-rouge-couple-were-strangled-to-death

This is just terrible. I feel like Baton Rouge has gotten so dangerous. This reminds me of this case a few years ago:

http://www.wafb.com/story/17101746/detectives-arrest-two-more-suspects-in-gold-coins-triple-murder

Horrible case- one of the suspects worked for one of the victims, in that case. This case sounds similar, with the empty safe. Someone probably knew they had the safe, and what was in it.

Regit said:

This is just terrible. I feel like Baton Rouge has gotten so dangerous. This reminds me of this case a few years ago:

http://www.wafb.com/story/17101746/detectives-arrest-two-more-suspects-in-gold-coins-triple-murder

Horrible case- one of the suspects worked for one of the victims, in that case. This case sounds similar, with the empty safe. Someone probably knew they had the safe, and what was in it.

Click to expand...

There will be a news conference at 11 am today.
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/13759171-171/baton-rouge-police-call-11

Arrested: Ernesto Alonso. 42 year old male of Baton Rouge.
[video=twitter;656867757905039360]https://twitter.com/WAFB/status/656867757905039360[/video]

[video=twitter;656867864146784256]https://twitter.com/WAFB/status/656867864146784256[/video]

The Baton Rouge Police Department announced an arrest has been made in the investigation into the abduction and murder of a Baton Rouge couple.

The suspect has been identified as Ernesto Alonso, 42, of Baton Rouge. Investigators said he was caught in Miami.

http://www.wafb.com/story/30315544/...erence-related-to-double-murder-investigation


Just as I suspected, the suspect did odd jobs for the family at their home.

LE is still looking for the accomplice(s).

Alonso will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder and second-degree kidnapping.

http://theadvocate.com/news/13759171-86/baton-rouge-community-shocked-heartbroken#comments

Alonso was arrested in Miami early this morning.

Bryn Stole
‏@BrynStole

Last night detectives from several local agencies flew to Miami after receiving a tip suspect was fleeing there.

https://twitter.com/BrynStole/status/656867201933115392


Bryn Stole
‏@BrynStole
Hillar Moore: Extradition of Alonso could take 1 to 3 months if suspect doesn't waive extradition.

https://twitter.com/BrynStole/status/656870162361004032

This is an article from yesterday which provides some background about the Duplantiers. They sound like a very loving and friendly couple with three daughters and four grandsons. Married 48 years, and lived in the Highland Road house for 39 years. "Buddy" enjoyed vegetable gardening and riding his motorcycle around town with his buddies. Suzanne was a retired teacher who enjoyed afternoon tea, and entertaining family and friends in her home.

Baton Rouge community 'shocked,' 'heartbroken' after Denis, Suzanne Duplantier found dead at Hammond truck stop
Heidi R. Kinchen and Danielle Maddox
The Advocate
Oct. 20, 2015; 10:51 a.m.

[...]
Denis “Bubby” Duplantier, 71, and Suzanne “Suzy” Duplantier, 70, were found in their truck parked in a corner of the Petro truck stop on Southwest Railroad Avenue near Interstate 12, Hammond Police Chief Roddy Devall said at a Tuesday news conference.

[...]
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar C. Moore III, who lives across the street from the family and is a friend to the couple, said he was shocked to hear the news.

“He was very security conscious,” Moore said of Denis Duplantier. “When I saw the address, I thought, ‘How could anyone get close to him?’"

Moore said if he had been given the chance, Denis Duplantier would have tried to defend him and his wife.

“He was a man that would act, not react,” Moore said. “He would have protected his wife.”

[...]
Suzanne Duplantier had recently retired from teaching adult education at a technical school, Smith said.

“She was a lady, very feminine, small, vivacious,” Smith said. “She drank hot tea in the afternoon.”

Smith said the couple constantly had family and friends over to visit, from summer barbecues to Christmas Eve celebrations.