Brandon Scott Lavergne Indicted On Two Counts Of First-Degree Murder, State Will Seek Death Penalty

In a bombshell announcement today, a grand jury has indicted Brandon Scott Lavergne on not one, but TWO charges of first-degree murder. In addition to an aggravated kidnapping charge, Lavergne was also indicted on charges for first-degree murder related to the disappearance of missing UL student Mickey Shunick. The second first-degree murder charge is for the death of Lisa Pate, who was found dead in 1999.

Pate was a Youngsville resident who went missing in June of 1999. Her body was discovered 3 months later in a grassy field under three large boards just northwest of Church Point, LA. According to an update via KATC's Facebook page, anthropologists at LSU used dental records to make positively identify Pate. Pate had three young children.

According to Nathan Pike from our sister station 96.5 KPEL who was out live at the 15th Judicial Court when the announcement came through, there was shock amongst volunteers and reporters alike.

The body of 12 grand jurors returned the decisions Wednesday afternoon. The District Attorney’s office presented its case against Lavergne to the grand jury for much of the afternoon.

The state will seek the death penalty on both first-degree murder charges.

Lavergne was not present for the trial.

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