Christine "Chris" McNeese
October 30, 1956 - December 20, 2025
December 23, 2025
WPSO Sheriff Jason Smith Press Conference on the Arrest of Troy Scott Jordan for the Murder of Donna Arceneaux
For those who did not see the press conference earlier on our Facebook page, here it is
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Tonight Widespread dense fog, mainly after 3am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a low around 56. Calm wind.
Wednesday Widespread dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind.
Wednesday Night Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
Christmas Day Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Arrest Made in Donna Arceneaux 2017 Murder
Today (Tuesday, December 23, 2025), Troy Scott Jordan of Franklinton was arrested and booked into the Washington Parish Jail on the charge of Second-Degree Murder in connection with Donna Arceneaux’s death in 2017.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith stated in the press release, “The arrest of Mr. Jordan marks a significant development in our ongoing effort to ensure accountability for this murder. I extend my sincere appreciation to the Louisiana State Police not only for the technical assistance of their Crime Lab but also for the efforts of their Investigative Team to rescue this case from dormancy. The assistance of the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s office was also particularly beneficial to the investigation, and I appreciate all their support on this case.
I want to thank Collin Sims, our District Attorney, for the legal guidance of his staff and their cooperation throughout this investigation. His partnership was essential in advancing this case to its current stage, and we will continue to work closely with the District Attorney’s Office to ensure that this case proceeds appropriately through the judicial process.
Fred Oswald and Jimmy Richard, our investigators on this case, were firmly committed to pursuing justice on behalf of Ms. Arceneaux and her loved ones. Their experience and perspective were instrumental to the progress we’ve made, and they remained disciplined and persistent throughout this process. I commend their ability to handle this case with the utmost diligence, professionalism and respect for the victim and her family.”
Sheriff Smith will host a press conference later today.
The October, 2017 murder of 40-year-old single mom Donna Arceneaux on 2017 in Franklinton was the subject of a podcast series several months ago and elevated interest in the case.
Click here for previous related stories, including links to the podcast episodes.
December 22, 2025
Pearl River PD Arrests Man After 6-Hour Standoff
The Pearl River Police Department reports that on Sunday (December 21, 2025) morning at approximately 8:00 a.m., an individual fired shots at a man walking along Spur 41 near the bridge. The Pearl River Police Department was notified and immediately responded. Upon arrival, the suspect fled into his residence and refused to come out.
The Pearl River Police Special Response Team (SRT) was activated and attempted to make contact with the suspect, who continued to refuse to exit the residence. SRT then requested assistance from the Louisiana Division of Probation and Parole SRT negotiators to help reach a peaceful resolution.
After a six-hour standoff, Jack Polk was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, Resisting an Officer with Force or Violence, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Legend Drug, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm with Narcotics. Bond has been set at $100,000.00.
The Pearl River Police Department expressed their thanks to the Louisiana Division of Probation and Parole SRT, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Louisiana State Police for their assistance during this incident.
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for December 20-21, 2025
Darrell Wilson (age 31 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving Left of Center/Wrong Side of Hwy, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering by the Franklinton Police Department. Released on $6000.00 bond.
Brandon Minarik (age 43 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Driving While Intoxicated by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Released on $2500.00 bond.
Christopher Davison (age 40 with Prairieville, La. address) was booked on the charges of Criminal Trespass, Prohibition/Possession of Firearms by a Person Against Whom a Protective Order is Issued, Resisting an Officer, Driving While Intoxicated (3rd Offense), and Resisting an Officer With Force/Simple Assault by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Leigha Seal (age 37 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Attempted Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling, Criminal Damage to Property Under 1000, Criminal Trespass, and Contempt of Court. No bond set at this time.
Trevor Honaker (age 24 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Failure to Appear, Contempt of Court, Failure to Pay Fine, Illegal Use of CDS in Presence of Person Under 17 YOA, Resisting an Officer/Flight on Foot, and Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $575.06.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today A 30 percent chance of showers or drizzle before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Calm wind.
December 21, 2025
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Monday A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.
December 20, 2025
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for December 19, 2025
Jermaine Walker (age 49 with Slidell, La. address) was booked on the charge of Contempt of Court by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Released December 19, 2025, no bond information.
Ricky Applewhite (age 36 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Resisting an Officer by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $7500.00.
Corey Dykes (age 35 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Injuring Public Records, Misrepresentation During Issuance of a Misdemeanor Summons or Preparation, Resisting an Officer, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Bogalusa Police Department. Bond set at $5000.00.
Stacey Grimes (age 56 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Driving During Darkness With Parking Lights, Expired License Plate, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Possession of Schedule II Drugs by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Melvin Lowe (age 47 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Aggravated Assault With a Firearm, Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm, Theft of Firearm, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $150000.00.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
LSU AgCenter's Weekly Message
2025 Blueberry Variety Demonstration Update
Last year, I wrote about the 2024 yields of the 31 blueberry varieties in our demonstration at the Hammond Research Station. This past summer, we again harvested blueberries and weighed them to quantify yields. Here, I’m providing information about 2025 season yields and the two-season averages.
Weights are per-plant yields in pounds, averaged over three (or two, in the case of Centurion) plants of each variety. All were planted in November of 2020. Because this is a demonstration and not a true research project, all plants of a given variety are next to each other, rather than replicated randomly within the area. Therefore, it’s likely that some of the variation in yields is due to factors other than the varieties themselves, such as soil conditions in the spots where they’re planted. Nevertheless, the data we’ve collected does provide some useful information.
The top yielders in 2025 largely overlapped with 2024’s top performers, though the exact ranking was different. Premier (15.3 lb), Brightwell (13.3 lb), Tifblue (12.0 lb), Ochlockonee (11.7 lb), Austin (11.0 lb), Alapaha (8.7 lb), and Powderblue (7.6 lb) – all rabbiteye varieties – were top-10 yielders both years. Three varieties – Farthing (9.2 lb), Suziblue (8.0 lb), and Onslow (7.6 lb) – that didn’t crack the top 10 in 2024 did so in 2025, replacing three others – Centurion, Legacy, and DeSoto – that were top-10 yielders in 2024.
We harvested from April 18, when Patrecia, Paloma, and Farthing had ripe fruit (at least 10 grams per plant) until June 30, when Ochlockonee, DeSoto, Onslow, and Centurion still had at least that amount of ripe fruit.
In 2025, no variety achieved the 17 to 19 pound yields we saw from Tifblue, Ochlockonee, and Brightwell in 2024. The high yields that year may have been due in part to the very small 2023 crop. A late freeze that year killed most blueberry flowers, so plants did not expend energy ripening many berries and likely had some extra carbohydrate reserves that helped the plants make the 2024 crop.
Averaged over two years, the top 10 producers were Tifblue, Brightwell, Ochlockonee, Premier, Austin, Alapaha, Powderblue, Legacy, Farthing, and Centurion. All of these are rabbiteye varieties except Legacy and Farthing.
The per-plant yields (lb) of the rabbiteye and related varieties averaged over the 2024 and 2025 seasons were as follows: Tifblue (15.6), Brightwell (15.4), Ochlockonee (15.0), Premier (13.7), Austin (11.6), Alapaha (9.2), Powderblue (8.4), Centurion (6.7), DeSoto (6.5), Onslow (6.5), Delite (5.8), Climax (5.1), Vernon (5.1), Columbus (3.6), Pink Lemonade (2.9), Titan (2.7), Krewer (1.9), and Robeson (1.8).
(I strongly suspect that one or more of the plants in the DeSoto and Robeson plots are not actually DeSoto and Robeson, even they were labeled as such. So, the stated yields of those may not be entirely reflective of those varieties’ potential.)
These are the per-plant yields (lb) of the southern highbush varieties, averaged over the 2024 and 2025 seasons: Legacy (7.2), Farthing (6.9), Suziblue (5.9), Gupton (5.6), Pearl (5.3), Keecrisp (3.7), Emerald (3.5), Camellia (1.6), Colibri (1.5), Miss Lilly (1.4), Patrecia (1.2), Paloma (1.2), and Star (0.8).
Of course, yield isn’t the only thing we care about when choosing blueberry varieties. We did some informal taste testing over the past two seasons, but in 2026, I plan to do some more organized evaluations of consumer preferences.
Let me know if you have questions.
Click here for previous LSU AgCenter's Weekly Messages
Dr. Mary Helen Ferguson is an Extension Agent with the LSU AgCenter, with horticulture responsibilities in Washington and Tangipahoa Parishes. Contact Mary Helen at mhferguson@agcenter.lsu.edu or 985-277-1850 (Hammond) or 985-839-7855 (Franklinton).
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight Increasing clouds, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday Showers likely, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Sunday Night A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Monday A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
December 19, 2025
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for December 17-18, 2025
Darryl Douglas (age 22 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.
Alicia Buras (age 40 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Theft 1000-5000 by the Bogalusa Police Department. No bond set at this time.
Undreay Jackson (age 53 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Theft 25000 or More by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Amanda Whitten (age 37 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Theft 25000 or More by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Santanna Ratley (age 25 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.
Alante Berger (age 29 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charge of Probation Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.
Jeremy Cordwell (age 41 with Ashland, Ky. address) was booked on the charge of Parole Violation by Probation and Parole. No bond set at this time.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Suspects Sought in Roseland Dollar General Theft
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) needs the public’s help identifying and locating two suspects in December 4, 2025 theft at the Dollar General store in Roseland.
On December 4, 2025, two men entered the Dollar General store around 7 p.m. The men, seen in the attached surveillance images, presented the clerk with a fraudulent prepaid Visa card that they tricked her into transferring to a new prepaid Visa card worth $1,000.
Sheriff Gerald Sticker encourages anyone with information about who these suspects are, or their whereabouts, to contact Det. Earl McFarland at 985-514-8181 or 985-351-8942.
If you’d prefer to share information anonymously, you can do so through Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa’s tip line at 1-800-554-5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com and click on the P3 Tips icon or Submit A Tip! Tips submitted through Crimestoppers may be eligible for a cash reward.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Hammond Woman Killed in Crash on Hwy 16 Near Amite
On December 16, 2025, at approximately 10:20 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to a two-vehicle crash on LA Highway 16 near Dykes Lane in Tangipahoa Parish. The crash claimed the life of 35-year-old Jalisa S. Alexander of Hammond.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Alexander, was traveling east on LA Highway 16. At the same time, a 2012 Kia Sorento was traveling west on LA Highway 16. For reasons still under investigation, the Kia crossed the center line and struck the Chevrolet head-on.
Alexander, who was properly restrained, sustained serious injuries and died on scene. Alexander’s passenger was also properly restrained, suffered minor injuries, and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the Kia, who was properly restrained, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital. As part of the ongoing investigation, routine toxicology samples were collected from both drivers for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Far too often, Troopers see the tragic results of preventable crashes. While not all crashes are survivable, wearing seatbelts correctly can significantly improve your chances of survival and reduce the severity of injuries. Ensure the seatbelt is correctly positioned across your hips and shoulders, and ensure children are securely fastened in appropriate car seats. These measures are crucial for arriving at your destination safely. Additionally, distracted and inattentive driving remains a leading cause of crashes in our state. Adhering to these simple precautions and all traffic laws can significantly enhance road safety.
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Tonight Clear, with a low around 38. Calm wind.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 71. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Increasing clouds, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. East wind around 5 mph.
December 18, 2025
Slidell Man Found Guilty of Brutal Battery of Dating Partner
District Attorney Collin Sims announces that on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, a St. Tammany Parish jury found Christian Jarrel Harrison, age 31 and of Slidell, guilty of multiple felony charges stemming from a horrific two-day period of domestic violence in June 2023. Following a three-day trial in the courtroom of the Honorable Judge Alan A. Zaunbrecher, Division H, the jury returned guilty verdicts on the following counts: Battery of a Dating Partner by Burning, Battery of a Dating Partner with Serious Bodily Injury, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies, and Aggravated Assault
The investigation began on June 6, 2023, after the victim was brought to New Orleans East Hospital by her mother for treatment of severe injuries. Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation into the incident, which occurred at Harrison’s residence on Chicory Court in Slidell.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that on June 3, 2023, Harrison became violent, accusing the victim of sharing his Wi-Fi password. Over the course of two days, Harrison subjected the victim to a series of brutal acts, including punching her repeatedly in the face and body and burning the top of her hand with a lit cigarette. He put a gun to her forehead and into her mouth and told her to pull the trigger. In an act of extreme degradation, Harrison also forced the victim to consume his urine from a beer bottle.
Detectives noted that the victim initially had difficulty detailing the abuse due to the trauma of the event and her desire to shield her parents from the graphic nature of the violence she endured.
“This verdict ensures that a dangerous individual is held accountable for the unimaginable cruelty he inflicted upon someone he was in a relationship with.” said District Attorney Collin Sims. “Domestic violence is not just a private matter; it is a violent crime that tears at the fabric of our community. My office remains committed to standing with survivors and ensuring that those who use fear and violence as tools of control face the full weight of the law.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Amanda Gritten and Zachary Popovich. District Attorney Sims extended his gratitude to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation and for the bravery of the victim in coming forward to testify.
Harrison faces significant prison time, particularly given his status as a prior felon. He was previously convicted of Simple Burglary, three times, in St. Tammany Parish in 2015. A sentencing date has been set for January 06, 2026.
62-Year-Old Covington Man Sentenced to 30 Years for 2020 Murder
District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 62-year-old Robert Clyde Dickerson Jr., of Covington, pleaded guilty to Manslaughter before District Judge Richard Swartz in Division C. Following the plea, Dickerson was sentenced to 30 years in the Department of Corrections.
The case dates back to August 12, 2020. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a 911 call at a residence on Wilson Road, where a male voice was heard pleading for help. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the victim, Everett W. Finley, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Finley was rushed to St. Tammany Parish Hospital by EMS, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office utilized surveillance footage from cameras mounted on the victim’s trailer to piece together the events. The recordings revealed: a masked gunman wearing a headlamp approaching the rear of the trailer at approximately 2:33 AM, the suspect fleeing the scene seconds after the shooting, and a vehicle parked in the driveway in the hours leading up to the murder.
Through their investigation, detectives learned that Dickerson had previously worked with the victim and harbored deep resentment, blaming Finley for his termination from their place of employment.
During questioning, Dickerson confessed to the murder, providing specific details that had not been released to the public. He further directed investigators to the murder weapon – a handgun he had transported to a residence in Waynesboro, Mississippi. Detectives successfully recovered the firearm from an individual identified as Melissa Smith.
In addition to the homicide, the investigation led to charges involving the possession of a stolen firearm belonging to another individual and the possession of an unregistered weapon.
“This was a calculated act of violence fueled by workplace grievance,” said District Attorney Collin Sims. “The 30-year sentence ensures that the defendant is held accountable for the life he took and the trauma he inflicted on the Finley family and the community. I want to commend the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for their meticulous investigative work and Assistant District Attorney Christina Fisher for her dedication to seeking justice for the Finley family.”
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today A 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Areas of dense fog before noon. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 74. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Friday Night Clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
December 17, 2025
Covington Man Gets 2 Concurrent 20-Year Sentences Without Parole for Sexual Abuse of Teenager
District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Thursday, December 12, 2025, Winston Bradford Patterson, age 40 and of Covington, was sentenced to two 20-year sentences – to run concurrently, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence, by District Judge Scott Gardner.
Patterson’s sentencing follows his conviction by a St. Tammany Parish jury on October 16, 2025, for Oral Sexual Battery of a Victim Under 15 and Molestation of a Juvenile. Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Gary Tromblay prosecuted the case. The jury delivered the guilty verdict after a four-day trial.
The charges stem from sexual crimes Patterson committed against his then-fiancée’s teenage daughter in 2022. A 13-year-old girl disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult, initiating an investigation by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, led by then-Detective Nicholas Fishel.
Forensic interviewer Cally Huggins with the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House conducted a critical interview with the victim. The victim detailed how Patterson initially gained her trust before progressively coercing her into various sexual acts over an extended period.
Patterson, when questioned, acknowledged having an improper relationship with the victim. Family members described Patterson as being “overly interested” in the victim and found his interactions “odd.”
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Gardner noted the heinous nature of the abuse of trust and authority by Patterson against a vulnerable family member. Due to Patterson’s two convictions and taking into account his history of prior drug-related convictions, Judge Gardner imposed the maximum sentences possible under the law, resulting in the 20-year sentence without parole eligibility.
District Attorney Sims stated, “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the profound breach of trust involved. While it ensures the offender will be incarcerated for a significant period of time, the lasting harm inflicted on the victim cannot be measured by any term of imprisonment. Our office remains committed to pursuing accountability and justice in every case involving the exploitation of children.”
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for December 16, 2025
Megan Crain (age 36 with Angie, La. address) was booked on the charges of Unlawful Ownership of a Dangerous Dog and Criminal Damage by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Released on $500.00 bond.
Lacristin Wells (age 35 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Resisting a Police Officer With Force or Violence, Aggravated Assault Upon a Peace Officer, and Possession of CDS With Weapon Present. No bond set at this time.
Jidarren Mobley (age 19 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling, Simple Assault, and Contempt of Court. No bond set at this time.
James Blackwell (age 57 with Franklinton, La. address) was booked on the charges of Failure to Appear and Probation Violation. No bond set at this time.
***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***
Amite Jail Escapee Back in Jail With New Charges
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office reports that on Monday (December 15, 2025) morning, 18-year-old Donnie Stevenson, a jail inmate, escaped custody from a transport vehicle at the courthouse in Amite. Stevenson is now back in custody with new charges of Simple Escape and Resisting an Officer. Stevenson had been in jail since March, 2025 awaiting trial for 1st Degree Rape, Aggravated Kidnapping, Armed Robbery and Illegal Possession of Stolen Things.
The investigation has revealed that shortly before 9 a.m. on Monday, a transport vehicle arrived to the courthouse from the jail. The vehicle parked in the outside loading dock area and the security gate to the area was closed. Over the next hour, as is standard procedure, small groups of inmates were escorted at different times from the vehicle into the courthouse until the vehicle was empty.
Around 10 a.m., deputies were informed by a courthouse employee of a suspicious person just seen wearing a gray sweat suit and orange flip-flops walking from behind the courthouse. While some deputies began an active pursuit of this individual, deputies inside the courthouse began a headcount of the inmates.
The chase led to a nearby neighborhood where several residents helped direct deputies to follow the individual they had seen running and pulling on vehicle and home door handles. Around 10:45 a.m., K-9 Thor located the individual, now wearing a black sweatsuit, hiding alongside a mobile home.
Once in custody, it was determined the individual had a waist chain on underneath his clothes and one hand still restrained by the handcuffs attached to the waist chain. The individual was then positively identified as Donnie Stevenson. Following medical treatment, Stevenson was returned to the jail and rebooked on one count of Simple Escape and one count of Resisting an Officer. Stevenson is in the process of being transferred to another facility.
At this time, it is believed that Stevenson hid in the transport vehicle until everyone had gone inside, removed the orange jail uniform to remain in the gray thermal clothing provided for warmth, got one hand out of the handcuffs, and exited the van. From there, it is believed that Stevenson slid underneath the security gate of the loading dock area, which is when he was immediately spotted and reported. It is currently unknown how or where Stevenson acquired the black clothing he was wearing when captured.
As the investigation into the incident continues, TPSO is also reviewing the policies and procedures surrounding our transport process.
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today A 20 percent chance of showers after 5pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 64. East wind around 5 mph.
Tonight A 40 percent chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3am. Patchy fog before midnight, then patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind around 5 mph.
Thursday A 70 percent chance of showers, and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 60. North wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Calm wind.
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