In the small Louisiana town of Jennings, a troubling series of murders has remained unsolved for nearly two decades, revealing dark truths about how some communities value certain lives less than others. Between 2005 and 2009, eight women were found dead—Loretta Chasson, Ernestine Patterson, Kristen Gary Lopez, Whitney Dubois, Laconia "Muggy" Brown, Crystal Benoit Zeno, Brittany Gary, and Nicole Guillory—all connected through their struggles with addiction, involvement in sex work, and roles as police informants.

What makes these murders particularly disturbing isn't just their brutality but the web of suspicious circumstances surrounding the investigation. When Loretta Chasson's body was pulled from a canal, a deputy had mysteriously shown up at her friend's door asking about her whereabouts before the body was even identified. The chief detective purchased a truck from a jail inmate—a vehicle that had supposedly transported one of the victims on the day she disappeared—only to have it thoroughly cleaned before quickly reselling it. Multiple victims told loved ones they feared they would be "next," suggesting they knew their killer.

The community remains divided by more than just the railroad tracks that physically separate the affluent from the impoverished. As Sheriff Ricky Edwards repeatedly blamed the victims' "high-risk lifestyles" for their deaths, citizens grew increasingly suspicious of law enforcement involvement. A local figure named Frankie Richard—pimp, drug dealer, and friend to all victims—remained seemingly untouchable until his death in 2020. Most chilling were the allegations that jail staff regularly exchanged contraband for sexual favors with female inmates, and that some victims had witnessed murders committed by or at the behest of law enforcement officers.

Investigative journalist Ethan Brown's exhaustive research raised disturbing questions about systemic corruption in Jefferson Davis Parish, with whistleblowers within law enforcement promptly fired for speaking out. Were these women murdered because they knew too much? Were they eliminated by the very people sworn to protect them? The Jennings Eight case reminds us that when society renders people "invisible," justice becomes elusive. Share this episode with anyone who believes every life deserves equal protection under the law.

Support the show

I love hearing from listeners. Please write a review and rate the show. And please, tell your friends and share episodes on your social media.

Your support helps us continue to research and share these fascinating stories from the South.

Thank you!

Support the Show:

You can connect with me by clicking the links below.

Facebook:

Instagram:

Website:

Tiktok: