Legislation to expand the methods Louisiana can use to carry out a death sentence is nearing final legislative passage. The Senate approved the bill to allow the state to use the electric chair or nitrogen gas to end a death row inmate’s life. New Orleans Senator Gary Carter says the legislation is unconstitutional because the death penalty is applied in a discriminatory way…
Right before the vote, Port Allen Senator Caleb Kleinpeter recognized the families of victims of death penalty cases who were watching from the gallery with Governor Jeff Landry…
The amended bill is expected to receive final passage in the House later today.
The last execution in Louisiana was in 2010 because the state cannot obtain the drugs needed to carry out a lethal injection.
The body of 19-year-old Sheryl Turner of New Iberia was positively identified as the one found on January 24th. Turner’s dismembered body was found floating in the Ouachita River by a fisherman approximately three miles north of Jonesville. Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards says they are following up on leads which includes Turner’s social media activity and friends. He says deputies are working with authorities in Iberia Parish and areas in between.
If you have any information about the case, you are asked to contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Department.