Slidell: Niece is Person of Interest in Her Aunt's Homicide

Yesterday afternoon (July 30, 2018), the Slidell Police Department responded to a residence on Paige Court after a woman advised she had not seen or heard from her sister. Upon entering the residence, officers located a female body.

The victim's vehicle was missing. SPD investigators and the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office processed the crime scene and determined that the body had multiple stab wounds.The victim was identified as Dianne Bercy (65). Dr. Charles Preston ruled the manner of death to be a homicide.

SPD has identified a person of interest in this case as 39-year-old, Kenya Despenza, who is the niece of the victim. Despenza was found to be in possession of the victim’s stolen vehicle, and has since been arrested for Theft of a Motor Vehicle and also an unrelated Failure to Appear attachment.

The investigation is still on-going and no arrest has been made in reference to the homicide.