The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations – New Orleans Field Office received a request for assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations on January 6, 2022, regarding a cold case homicide investigation. The case in question involved the discovery of a female infant's body inside a garbage bag in Picayune, MS, on April 17, 1992. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was perinatal asphyxia due to smothering, and the case was classified as a homicide.
The Picayune Police Department initiated a homicide investigation and collected various pieces of evidence, some of which were linked to associations in Gretna, LA. All evidence was preserved by the Picayune Police Department.
In August of 2021, the Picayune Police Department and Detectives with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations reopened the investigation. With the help of advanced technology, DNA profiles and fingerprints were developed from the preserved evidence. Through investigative means, detectives were able to identify the infant's parents as 50-year-old Andrew Carriere and 50-year-old Inga Johansen Carriere, who were living in Louisiana at the time of the death.
As a result of the investigation, LSP Detectives obtained an arrest warrant through the 24th Judicial District Court for both Inga Johansen Carriere and Andrew Carriere for First Degree Murder. On February 28, 2023, Inga Johansen Carriere was arrested at her residence in Avondale, LA. On March 9, 2023, Andrew Carriere was arrested in Galliano, LA and ultimately booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.
This breakthrough in the case is a testament to the advancements in forensic technology and the dedication of law enforcement agencies to bring justice to victims and their families.
Below is a Press Release from Picayune Police Department
On April 15, 1992 a fully developed newborn female was found in a trash bag in a dumpster behind the business of what was then Mr. Gatti's Pizza located at 704 Memorial Blvd.
A local farmer removed trash bags to feed his animals from that trash dumpster. Once he was home on or about the next day he went to feed his animals and discovered the newborn baby. The baby was located in a trash bag wrapped in a towel with other items of trash.
Detectives working the case photographed and collected the other items of trash in the bag. They were tagged and placed in evidence.
The autopsy revealed that the baby was probably born the morning of Wednesday, April 15, 1992. It also revealed that the baby was approximately three weeks premature and lived a few minutes before being smothered.
The case went cold.
Picayune Police reopened this case in 2021. Due to this case being almost 29 years old we did not know where the baby was buried because it was not documented in the file. We followed some tips from past officers at the department who thought she was buried in the Salem community. We were advised that a local church donated the plot and its members collected money for a headstone. In May of 2021 a headstone was found at Lee's Chapel Baptist Church located at 27015 Leetown Rd. Picayune, MS. The headstone read “Heavens Angel” April 15, 1992- April 15, 1992. It was later confirmed by the Coroner that was the correct location the baby was buried.
In August of 2021 a special agent with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations (MBI) offered to assist in this case due to having a grant that would cover forensic genetic genealogy testing from evidence that was collected and preserved for over 29 years. Picayune Police evidence clerk provided the lab with the evidence and suspects were developed due to advanced DNA technology.
Louisiana State Police (LSP) assisted with the investigation due to the fact that the suspects lived in Louisiana. DNA samples were obtained in Louisiana by LSP along with Picayune Police Detectives and MBI. It was determined that the crime took place in Louisiana.
In March of 2023 arrest warrants were issued for 50 year old Inga Johansen Carriere (173 Carmen Dr., Avondale, LA.) and 50 year old Andrew K. Carriere II (600 Stewart Ave., River ridge, LA.) for First Degree Murder.
Inga Johansen Carriere and Andrew Carriere II have both been arrested. They are both currently being held at Jefferson Parish Correctional Facility.
Picayune Police Detectives signed Felony affidavits on both subjects for Desecration Of A Human Being and warrants were signed by the judge. We have placed a hold on both subjects and they will be extradited to Mississippi upon their release from Louisiana.
Without documentation and evidence collected and preserved as well as it was in 1992 this case would not have been solvable. We would like to thank MBI and LSP for all of their hard work and for helping us bring closure to this case.
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The below video is from 1992 WLOX News Archive
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