POSTED: Monday, November 5, 2012 - 6:27pm
UPDATED: Monday, November 5, 2012 - 11:02pm
LOCKPORT, LA (NBC33) — A man believed to be responsible for the murder of a mother and her two children is behind bars for separate charges. Although he has not been formally charged, officials say he will remain in prison until the murder charges can be filed.
“We have compelling evidence at this point, and we are working diligently to develop additional leads and forensics that further solidify [the suspects] involvement in this horrific crime,” said Sheriff Craig Webre, Lafourche Parish. “As the investigation continues, we expect to bring additional charges relative to the murders and possibly additional related crimes.”
David Brown, 34, of Houma was identified as a suspect for the murder of Jacqueline Gautreaux Nieves, 29, and her two daughters ages 6 and 9. The incident happened on Sunday, Nov. 3 [1] at around 8:00 a.m. with a reported house fire. However, firefighters found the bodies inside an apartment complex located on Elliot Drive and the bodies had visible stab wounds.
Jacqueline’s husband was originally detained and questioned as a suspect.
“The father of the two children was questioned and released,” officials tell NBC33 News. “He was cooperative and there is no evidence to implicate that he was involved in the crime.”
Instead, detectives turned their attention to Brown, who was arrested on Sunday for a separate incident. He allegedly broke into another apartment in the same complex and committed battery on the person at that residence. When detectives questioned Brown about the triple homicide, they say he invoked his right to counsel.
Brown is being held in the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on a bond of $110,000 for charges of Unauthorized Entry into an Inhabited Dwelling and Simple Battery. He has not yet been charged with any additional crimes, however, officials say they anticipate filing formal charges for the triple homicide in the next couple of days.
Officials say it has been 40 years since the last homicide investigation in the town of Lockport.