Brandon Scott Lavergne Sentenced To Life Without Parole For The Murders Of Mickey Shunick & Lisa Pate

Published May 27, 2012
FoxNews.com

Louisiana authorities say they have been "flooded" with tips in their search for a missing college student last seen leaving a late-night party by bicycle.

The search for Michaela "Mickey" Shunick intensified after police released surveillance videos Friday showing a bicyclist thought to be the missing 22-year-old college student. Police also said they were eyeing a white four-door pickup truck seen in the same video.
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"We've actually been flooded with information on potential trucks and why they are suspicious, that we should check a residence because there is a truck there," Lafayette police spokesman Cpl. Paul Mouton told the Daily Advertiser. "The tips have included anything and everything. It's been a tremendous response.

Shunick was last seen around 2 a.m. May 19 leaving a house party in a neighborhood popular with college students. The anthropology major at the University of Louisiana, who friends describe as "responsible," left the home on a black bicycle.

"The first thing that raised a flag for us is when she didn't show up to her brother's high school graduation," Ashley Says, a close friend of Shunick told Fox44.

"She's not a rebel. She always has a can of mace in her front pocket, she obeys all traffic laws.She loved to have fun, but she's really responsible," Says told Fox44.

Shunick's friends have organized search parties and are sharing her story on social media, desperate for clues.

"She loves life," Says told Fox44. "She's a great person, and we’re all just trying to keep positive thoughts."

Shunick is white, with blond hair and about 5-foot-1 and 115 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call 337-291-8633.

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RSO arrested in Mickey's disappearance! Press conference tomorrow.
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Mickey Shunick Murdered, Man Arrested: Brandon Scott Lavergne

Mickey Shunick was kidnapped and murdered according to the arrest information regarding the latest update in her case. A man by the name of Brandon Scott Lavergne, who is a registered sex offender, was arrested just hours ago. The St. Landry Parish man is also the owner of a white Chevy Z-71—not a coincidence at all, it seems.

This is a heartbreaking update in the case of this high profile missing woman, but at least the wheels of justice are now beginning to turn. Police have said nothing about the remains of the missing Anthropology major, but they have charged Brandon Scott Lavergne with kidnapping and murder associated with her disappearance.

Today is a heartbreaking day for the friends and family of Mickey Shunick, but it's time to move forward and hope that justice will be served against the man responsible.

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Brandon Scott Lavergne

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Brandon Scott Lavergne Arrested And Charged With First Degree Murder


Brandon Scott Lavergne, photo by St. Landry Parish Sex Offenders Registry

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) — Brandon Scott Lavergne has been arrested, possibly in connection with the disappearance of Mickey Shunick. An arrest affidavit confirms Lavergne has been charged with first degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.

Lafayette Police announced Thursday afternoon that an arrest had been made in the case.

KPEL confirms deputies with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department searched the Elaine Rd. home of Lavergne, a registered tier three sex offender, in Church Point. Megan Vizena, a St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, says that search was in connection with the Mickey Shunick case.

Lafayette Police asked for assistance in executing the search warrant, Vizena says.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Department sex offender registry website also confirms Lavergne owns a white 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. Lafayette Police have been searching for a white truck captured on surveillance cameras the morning Mickey disappeared.

Tom Shunick, Mickey’s father, says Lafayette Police have informed him of what they can tell him at this time.

“They came by and they said they made an arrest of some guy,” Shunick says. “They didn’t tell me who it was. They’re questioning him now. They’ve known about him for some time.”

Cpl. Paul Mouton, a Lafayette Police Department spokesperson, says a 1 p.m. news conference about the case will be held Friday afternoon. He says no other information will be released until the conference. KPEL will carry the conference live.

It has been over a month since her family and friends have seen the 22-year-old woman. She has been missing since the early morning hours of Saturday, May 19th. She was last seen in a video riding her bicycle down St. Landry Street. Several weeks ago her bicycle was found damaged below the overpass at the Interstate Ten Mile Marker 127 exit. The bicycle was then turned over to the State Police crime lab for analysis.

KPEL will continue to cover the story and bring you the most accurate information as we get it.

– Bernadette Lee and Nathan Pike contributed to this report.

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One of my friends found pics of his home. I'd say he was either living with someone or has an ex-wife, look at all the copper pots, nice wallpaper, etc.
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More links on Brandon Scott Lavergne:
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He was accused of tying, blindfolding and sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman while he was stationed as a soldier at Fort Polk, according to a news story that was published in The Advocate at the time.
One of Lavergne’s neighbors, Shirley Busby, said Thursdaythat she knew little about the man.
“He keeps to himself,” she said. “I see him just on the weekend.”

Police confirmed last week that the lead investigator had received some information from the State Police Crime Lab regarding the bicycle.
________________________________
Maybe LE got his fingerprints?

Here's his photo and record:
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Lavargne appeared before a judge early Friday for a preliminary hearing, where it was learned that he will be kept in critical care in order to protect him from other prisoners, and that he will be represented by a public defender, KATC reported.

Lavergne was informed by the judge that his bond for kidnapping was set at $250,000, and that there would be no bond for the first-degree murder charge.

When asked if is able to afford a lawyer for his defense, Lavargne said, "Not in a case like this, sir

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Latest UpdateActive Scene in Mickey Shunick Case

12:14 PM by Melissa Canone


There is still an active scene going on in Lawtell in the case of Mickey Shunick. The Lafayette Police Department and St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office are still at the home of Brandon Scott Lavergne, who is being charged with 1st Degree Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of Mickey Shunick.

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Lafayette Police hold press conference in Mickey Shunick case

Lafayette police held a press conference Friday afternoon to announce the arrest of Brandon Scott Lavergne in connection with the disappearance of Mickey Shunick.

LPD chief Jim Craft said that Lavergne, a 33-year-old offshore worker from Lawtell with aggravated kidnapping and first-degree murder of the 21-year-old University of Louisiana-Lafayette student that went missing on May 19.

Craft also said the case is still ongoing and did not discuss a lot of details in the case to the media.

"Although an arrest has been made in this case, much work remains to be done," he said.

Craft said that a Chevrolet Z71 pickup truck registered to Lavergne was reported stolen in Montgomery County, Texas, and was burned in San Jacinto County, about an hour north of Houston.

Police believe the pickup truck is the same one seen in a surveillance video on May 19, following Shunick, who was riding her bike. Craft also said that the damage on Mickey's bike was consistent with being hit by a vehicle, but they still have not gotten lab reports back.

"I think based on the information we have...maybe he was riding around looking for someone to victimize," Craft said.

Craft believes Mickey was abducted between St. Mary and St. Landry parishes and Blackham Coliseum.

Craft said on Thursday, police stopped Lavergne on 1-10 and I-49 around 2:30 p.m. on an unrelated charge and booked him into LPCC.

After his arrest, he requested an attorney and has refused to answer questions.

Craft: "[Lavergne] has refused to talk to us or cooperate with us."

Police have been at Lavergne's home since yesterday, and are still processing information and evidence from the scene.

Lavergne was arraigned by Judge Thomas Fredrick Friday morning. He said he did not have a lawyer and cannot afford one. The judge said a public attorney will be assigned to him.

Shunick’s disappearance has gripped the Lafayette community, as citizens volunteered to search for her and have given support to her family.

"We want the family to know we will not rest until we know what happened to [Mickey]," Craft said.

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I am so sad reading this. Like all the other missing girls I was so hoping she would be found alive even thou' the odds were so slim. My heart and prayers go out to her family and friends.
To charge this guy with first degree murder they must have good evidence on him. What a POS.
Thanks for all the updates Lisette!

This line in the press conference article.. "On June 14, investigators said that they received information from a concerned citizen, regarding a white pickup truck that may be involved in Mickey’s disappearance."

On the LSU website called "tiger droppings" a guy named Adam has posted a lot of info about this Lavergne guy. Adam says Lavergne was dating his SIL, and his family was trying to make her see this was a bad guy with a record, and Adam is the "concerned citizen" who reported the white truck to authorities. You can read all his comments (Adam4LSU) about Lavergne here - starts at the bottom of page 18 and goes for many pages:
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Sam, if I haven't said it before, you are good! Thank you for posting what you do!

From Sam's link above:
're: Arrest Made in Shunick Investigation (Posted on 7/5/12 at 9:48 p.m. to cajunatc)
quote:
can someone please summarize what Adam did/said/predicted in his original post to now?


- Shunick goes missing in Mid-May
- About a week later Adam starts a thread about his SIL dating a creep who is a Tier 3 sex offender.
- Information on the white truck of interest is released about 10 days after Shunick goes missing.
- Adam informs LEO that his SIL's BF, Brandon Lavergne, drives a truck matching the one described.
- Case goes silent in the media, no details released from the lab on the bike or the second random search at Whiskey Bay
- Adam predicts and upcoming arrest in the case last week
- Today Brandon Lavergne is arrested'
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Thanks, Raine. I have a couple friends who follow various crime sites and email me interesting tidbits, that helps. I'm glad they at least found the perp in this case. Way too many of these cases have victim's bodies yet to be found and no perp arrested at all. (Or in Sierra Lamar's case, arrested, but not talking.)

I feel bad for Mickey's family, I really hoped Mickey would be found alive and had just been kidnapped. (And I publicly apologize and take back any suspicions I had earlier of Brettly - who I thought was acting odd - he had nothing to do with it.)

Sam, re: Brettly, we all do that in these cases, no need to worry about earlier suspicions. You are very much appreciated here.
Again, I'm wondering about the other blondes that have been missing and any connection to this guy. Adam's SIL is one very lucky lady.

I really think this guy could be a serial killer. Sounds like he enjoys burning things down also.

Here's a PDF of officer's arrest report on Brandon Lavergne in 1999:
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His latest mugshot and details about his sex offender past are up on KLFY's fb page:
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Per [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] about an hour ago:
'New movement at Brandon Lavergne's home in Swords. Investigators are removing the skirting around the home. They have been searching the property all day.'

lisette wrote:Latest UpdateActive Scene in Mickey Shunick Case

12:14 PM by Melissa Canone


There is still an active scene going on in Lawtell in the case of Mickey Shunick. The Lafayette Police Department and St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office are still at the home of Brandon Scott Lavergne, who is being charged with 1st Degree Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of Mickey Shunick.

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Please click on the above link lisette posted. Very interesting.
Also..this
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samgoodwin wrote:This line in the press conference article.. "On June 14, investigators said that they received information from a concerned citizen, regarding a white pickup truck that may be involved in Mickey’s disappearance."

On the LSU website called "tiger droppings" a guy named Adam has posted a lot of info about this Lavergne guy. Adam says Lavergne was dating his SIL, and his family was trying to make her see this was a bad guy with a record, and Adam is the "concerned citizen" who reported the white truck to authorities. You can read all his comments (Adam4LSU) about Lavergne here - starts at the bottom of page 18 and goes for many pages:
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Thanks, Sam!! I completely agree w/Raine. You ARE good!!
I went to that website and saw this as well:

re: Arrest Made in Shunick Investigation (Posted on 7/5/12 at 9:22 p.m. to CtotheVrzrbck)
I just saw the picture on the news and I am in shock. I talked to this guy for about an hour a couple of months ago offshore. I was catching a boat from an Apache platform(SMI 268 I think) and talked to him in the galley. He was the shift mechanic and worked for Wood group. This was right before the abduction. Seemed like a nice guy, but you could tell he was "throwed off".

raine1953 wrote:Per [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] about an hour ago:
'New movement at Brandon Lavergne's home in Swords. Investigators are removing the skirting around the home. They have been searching the property all day.'

I clicked and saw a lot of this..even "liked" the page and NOW, it says it's
'not found'.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] try this Wrap.

It's still saying 'page not found'.

I still had the FB page up so I refreshed it and I can still get it. But the latest link I just posted right above this doesn't work.....

Strange.

By Associated Press, Published: July 6

LAFAYETTE, La. — A Louisiana police chief said Friday that a burned truck found in Texas was the key to the arrest of a 33-year-old registered sex offender in the disappearance of college student Michaela “Mickey” Shunick.

Brandon Scott Lavergne was booked Thursday with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping, authorities said.

Shunick, a student at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, was last seen riding away from a friend’s house on a bicycle in the early hours of May 19, days before her 22nd birthday.

Her friends wept openly at a police news conference on Friday, comforted by search party members and community supporters who’d been working to locate the student for almost two months.

Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft provided few details about the investigation. He said no body has been recovered. He would not detail any evidence that led investigators to certainty that Shunick is dead.

He cautioned that while an arrest has been made, much more investigation is ahead. “Lavergne is believed to be responsible for the disappearance of Mickey Shunick,” Craft said.

Craft said surveillance video that picked up Shunick shortly after she left a friend’s house on May 19 led them to a white Chevrolet pickup that was seen in the same area. Police put out a community appeal seeking to identify the vehicle and its driver, but no one came forward.

A break in the case came June 14, Craft said, when a tip came into a phone hotline set up after the student’s disappearance. Craft would not go into detail on how officers were led to a white pickup truck found burned in San Jacinto County, Texas, on May 31. But he said the truck was registered to Lavergne and had been reported stolen in Montgomery County, Texas.

“Based on information and surveillance, detectives were able to positively identify the truck that traveled directly behind Mickey in the video as belonging to Brandon Lavergne,” Craft said. “Investigators were also able to place Brandon Lavergne in and around the location of where the bicycle was located.”

Craft said Lavergne was arrested Thursday after a state police traffic stop on Interstate 10 on an unrelated warrant. Craft said Lavergne had tampered with his driver’s license so that it no longer indicated he is a registered sex offender. Sex offenders in Louisiana are required to have driver’s licenses that display a code identifying them as such.

The state’s online list of registered sex offenders says Lavergne was convicted of aggravated oral sexual battery in 2000. He was released in 2008.

Craft said Lavergne declined to cooperate with police. He was booked in the Shunick case and was being held without bond on Friday.

“We want the family to know that we will not rest until we can fully know what happened to her. We continue our efforts to locate and bring Mickey home,” Craft said.

Craft said her family reported her missing after she didn’t return home, missed her brother’s high school graduation and failed to answer calls to her cell phone.

Eight days after she vanished, local fisherman reported they had found a bicycle in a remote, swampy area under a highway bridge about 25 miles east of Lafayette in Iberville Parish.

The black Schwinn bicycle was identified as Shunick’s. Craft said the damage to the rear tire was consistent with damage associated with being struck by a vehicle.

Police said they sent the bike to a state police crime lab but that Craft said his department hadn’t received the results from those tests at the time of Lavergne’s arrest.

Craft said Lavergne was an offshore worker but couldn’t provide further details about his whereabouts during Shunick’s disappearance. Authorities searched his mobile home in nearby St. Landry Parish on Thursday.

The Shunick family did not respond to requests for comment on Friday.

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Lafayette police: Evidence points to death of missing woman
10:55 AM, Jul 7, 2012 The Daily Advertiser
Written by
Megan Wyatt
Gannett Louisiana

LAFAYETTE -- Police say it appears Brandon Scott Lavergne, the 33-year-old offshore worker and former Fort Polk soldier charged with first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance of a Lafayette woman, did not know she has been missing since May 19. 'It APPEARS? What do they mean? Are they inferring HE said he did not know she was missing since 5/19??

Lafayette police also say evidence suggests that Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, who would have turned 22 two days after her disappearance, is dead.

On Thursday, Lavergne, of Swords in St. Landry Parish, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in the disappearance of Shunick, who was a student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lavergne was taken into custody after Louisiana State Police arrested him earlier that afternoon on an unrelated charge near the intersection of Interstates 49 and 10.

"I think that, based on the information that we have, maybe he was riding around looking for someone to victimize," Lafayette Chief Jim Craft said Friday at a news conference announcing the arrest.

It was one of few details released about Lavergne, whose arrest drew immediate from a community that has been vigilant about keeping alive the hope of Shunick's safe return.

As volunteers marked the 48th day of their efforts Friday, police had no information on the whereabouts of the anthropology major last seen riding her black Schwinn bicycle near downtown Lafayette after leaving a friend's home in the early morning hours of May 19.

On June 14, investigators received a tip about a white Chevrolet Z71 pickup thought to be involved in the case. Police found that the truck was registered to Lavergne. The truck was previously reported stolen in Montgomery County, Texas. On May 31, it was found burned in San Jacinto County, Texas, about 60 miles north of Houston.

Craft said Lavergne recently purchased another Chevrolet Z71 pickup.

Police continued Friday to search Lavergne's home in Swords. Investigators also are following up on leads regarding where Shunick's body may be, according to Lafayette police Cpl. Paul Mouton.

Evidence and information obtained during the investigation suggest Shunick is dead, Craft said.

Investigators believe Lavergne had no connection to Shunick. Craft also said he does not expect additional arrests in the case.

Nancy Rowe, Shunick's mother, watched the news conference Friday with her family but could only focus her energy on bringing her daughter home.

"We watched. It was noncommittal," Rowe said in a text message sent to a reporter for The Daily Advertiser. "We don't care about any of it except finding Mickey at this point."

Although the doors to the Shunick search headquarters remain open, the Shunick family issued a news release Friday asking for time to be alone.

Despite the first-degree murder charge, the family still hopes that Shunick could still be alive.

"We are holding up fine and staying positive," the statement said. "The chances of her being alive today are the same as they were yesterday, and for that reason, we are keeping the faith."

Shunick spent the night of May 18 listening to music with friends. She was last seen riding her bicycle away from a friend's house at 100 Ryan St. about 1:45 a.m. Video surveillance cameras captured her image on Versailles Boulevard and St. John Street at 1:47 and 1:48 a.m., followed one minute later by a white pickup that police think was driven by Lavergne.

Police Capt. Craft on Friday acknowledged the stress the Shunick family has experienced over the past 48 days.

"We will not rest until we can fully know what happened to (Mickey)," Craft said. "We continue our efforts to locate and bring Mickey home."

Lavergne convicted in 2000
Little is known about Lavergne beyond his criminal record. According to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office sex offender website, he was convicted of aggravated oral sexual battery on Feb. 18, 2000.

According to a report from the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office, Lavergne tied up and blinfolded an 18-year-old woman and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Lavergne claimed in the report that he had a consensual sexual encounter with the woman, who was his girlfriend's cousin. In February 2000 he pleaded guilty to aggravated oral sexual battery in exchange for a 10-year sentence and the dismissal of a related aggravated burglary charge.

He was serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Polk when the incident occurred. That also is where he was arrested, according to documents Lavergne filed in federal court to appeal the conviction.

Lavergne, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison, was incarcerated in C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center from February 2000 until Aug. 9, 2008. He remained under parole supervision until February 2010, according to Pam Laborde, communications director with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

According to the St. Landry Parish Sex Offender Registry, Lavergne's last verification date was May 28, nine days after Shunick's disappearance. Craft confirmed the initial arrest made by State Police was related to sex offender registration and also confirmed that Lavergne had hidden his sex offender information on his driver's license.

"I don't think the people who run the registry would necessarily know that he hid his information," Craft said. "If he's making his contacts and his visits, they may be ruled in good standing."

Lavergne appeared before 15th Judicial District Commissioner Thomas Frederick on Friday morning, at which time Lavergne said he did not have a lawyer and could not afford one. Attorneys Burleigh Doga and Clay Lejeune with the Acadia Parish Public Defender's Office and have been assigned to defend him.

Both first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping are capital offenses, so Lavergne could face the death penalty.

Police said they believe Shunick was kidnapped between St. Mary and St. Landry streets and Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette. That is near the site where surveillance video picked up images of Shunick riding her bike followed soon after by a white pickup truck about 2 a.m. May 19.

Craft said the damage to Shunick's bicycle, found May 27 under Whiskey Bay Bridge on I-10 about 30 miles east of where Shunick was last seen, was consistent with being hit by a vehicle. He said police have not received a report on the bike from the state crime lab.

"Investigators are also able to place Brandon Lavergne in and around the location of where the bicycle was located," Craft said.

According to Shunick volunteer coordinator Margaret Bearb, several friends and volunteers gathered to watch the news conference at the volunteer headquarters in the South College Shopping Center.

"There were tears shed during the press conference, but I think it wasn't tears of sadness," Bearb said. "It was tears of anger that we had to see his story, but as soon as it was over, we had to pull ourselves off the floor and stay positive."

In Lafayette, anger, sadness and fear
The news of the arrest has elicited mixed emotions from Lafayette residents, including anger and sadness mixed with fear that city streets might not be as safe as once believed. Residents also hope that the Shunick family might soon be getting some closure.

"It's a shame this happened in Lafayette. It's heartbreaking," said Michael Arceneaux, who owns Corner Pantry Foods at Dulles and Foreman. "I heard on the radio that a man was arrested for the involvement in the murder of Mickey, and it made me so angry that I had to do something."

Arceneaux, a Lafayette native who has owned the corner store for about 46 years, decided to make his anger public. About 11 p.m. Thursday night, he displayed a sign outside the store reading "Brandon Scott Lavergne, burn in hell."

Arceneaux said the news also made him afraid for his children, grandchildren and the young patrons of his store. There are numerous registered sex offenders in the area surrounding his store, he said.

"I just can't image going through that. It's terrible that this happens anywhere and especially in our town," he said.

Claire Maraist, chemical engineering sophomore at UL, echoed that sentiment. These situations can occur anywhere, she acknowledged, but she didn't expect it would happen here.

"I hope people our age learn from it and don't see it as a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Maraist said. "It could happen to anyone. We have to accept that people our age don't know everything."

Marchelle Romar, who used to work in Crowley and now works in Lafayette, said that she has not felt safe in this area since before the 2008 Jennings killings that left eight women dead. She urged young women to take extra precautions. Take a friend with you, especially late at night, she said.

"As far as with Mickey, she's not guilty for riding her bike at night, but at the same time, where's her thinking?" she said.

Maraist said Shunick's disappearance has changed her behavior, especially after dark.

"My mom made me go out and buy mace," she said. "I'm never letting my friends leave alone at 2 a.m. I have become attached to the buddy system."

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Wrap & Raine, I couldn't find KFLY's fb page either, but here's the link to KLFYTV's news website:
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It's obvious he knew he was in trouble if he was trying to hide his RSO status... "Craft said Lavergne had tampered with his driver's license so that it no longer indicated he is a registered sex offender. Sex offenders in Louisiana are required to have driver's licenses that display a code identifying them as such."
(from link above and also at) [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

(I read in another article that on May 31st, Lavergne had appealed to have his RSO classification removed and he had a hearing set for Aug. 9th for that.)
_________
Brandon's mother and brother have issued statements.. somehow I'm thinking "sorry" isn't really going to cut it. Her saying he was adopted kind of bothered me, like she meant it wasn't her fault. Although she did attempt to clarify why she said that. If she's sorry, she needs to get her son to talk and say where Mickey is.
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Here are their full statements:
Cynthia Lavergne Hello to all.. My name is Cynthia Lavergne. I am the Mother of Brandon Scott Lavergne. There may never be a good or appropriate time for me to send this message but for me this seems to be the time. Brandon Scott Lavergne is my son however, he is an adopted son. I adopted Brandon at birth to give him the family he deserved. I am not saying this to minimize the relationship with my son.. I'm stating this so that no one else has the chance to say or reveal what is rightfully mine to do. I would like to offer my condolences to the Shunick family. I also would like to have closure. I know I'm sorry is never enough however, it is all i have to offer at this moment. I am learning about this case as everyone else is, one news cast at a time, one Facebook post at a time, and one phone call at a time. I am sure I will speak to more people later but at this time this is truly all I can say, I'm so very deeply sorry for the grief everyone is going through, may the angels be beside you through this time and always.

Joshua Lavergne Hey , my name is Joshua Lavergne. I'm am the brother of Brandon Scott Lavergne. I would like to say I'm sorry for what the Shunick family has gone through. I was and still am one of the many residents of Acadiana that wants to see this young woman brought home. I'm sure there are people wanting to hear from us.. in fact I'm 100% sure since we are getting calls from the media(TV and Newspapers). We had a neighbor visited by the TV stations to question our neighbors as well. We have no answers. If we had more information than what ya'll have we would gladly give this to you. We do not condone anything that has gone on and are in shock that someone we call family would be arrested for such a sick crime. We know as much as everyone else on here does. We have not been called in for questioning by any agency but would cooperate to the fullest if we were. We are angry as well but we can't lash out the way people want us to. We are still holding on to hope that she comes home and attempting to hold on to hope that this is all a nightmare and we will wake up from it soon. I'm going to end this by saying once again, I'm truly sorry and would give anything to be able to have answers but I don't. My deepest regards and sympathies for everyone involved.

From above post:

We do not condone anything that has gone on and are in shock that someone we call family would be arrested for such a sick crime.

What about the fact he was in prison for over 8 years for forcing oral sex on an 18 year old cousin of his gf?? That's a pretty long sentence as she was not a minor. He HAD to have had a rap sheet for other such crimes IMHO and it hasn't been released yet. No way he would have served this much time on someone 18 yo.

And, he also had aggravated burglary charges.

I would bet this is not his first rodeo..that he has killed before..may be a serial killer for all we know.

I will give his family credit for making a statement(s) as they didn't have to say one word but it's too little too late.

Sam, thanks for that info. The website you posted (http://www.klfy.com/) comes up and about half way down the page where it says 'stay connected' if you click on the FB icon it does take you to their FB page.

Search continues at home of Lafayette murder suspect
10:24 AM, Jul 7, 2012
Written by
William Johnson
Gannett Louisiana

LAFAYETTE -- Teams of investigators on Friday were combing the home and property of Brandon Scott Lavergne in a rural area near Swords, a small community between Opelousas and Eunice just off U.S. Route 190.

Lavergne, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the case of Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, a 22-year-old University of Louisiana at Lafayette student who went missing May 19.

Assisting with the investigation, which is under the direction of the Lafayette Police Department, were detectives and crime scene experts from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office.

"When we got out here yesterday, they told us this would be an eight-hour operation, and we are still here. They are being very through," said Lt. Megan Vizena, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

She said Lavergne's trailer and numerous cars on the property all are being examined and teams also are searching the grounds for clues to what happened to Shunick.

While much work remains to be done, Vizena called it a good day.

"It's a good day not only for law enforcement, but for the entire community. We are finally getting some answers. I know as a parent I'd be relieved to know justice had been served," Vizena said.

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said Lavergne, a convicted sex offender, had been a target of the investigation for weeks, especially since his truck was found burned in Texas in mid-June.

"Lafayette PD has been on top of this since the beginning. They have done a wonderful job. I'm just happy we can assist them," Guidroz said. "We are doing what we can to get enough good evidence to ensure a successful prosecution."

Vizena said Lavergne, originally from Acadia Parish, had been arrested in Evangeline Parish in 1999 on a charge of aggravated oral sexual battery. He pleaded guilty to that charge in February 2000 in exchange for a prison sentence of no more than 10 years and the dismissal of a related burglary charge.

He was released from prison in 2008, which is when he moved to his current address.

"He has kept pretty much to himself," Vizena said.

Neighbors agreed.

"I only knew him to say 'hi' and 'bye.' He seemed like a normal person to me," said Lloyd Mitchell, who regularly mows the grass at his grandmother's house.

His grandmother's home at Jessie B Road and Elaine Lane is the closest to Lavergne's gray trailer at 143 Elaine Lane, a dirt road that serves a small number of houses in this area of farm land that is gradually giving way to houses and trailers.

Mitchell said it is a quiet neighborhood in which people mind their own business.

"I'm shocked. My grandmother is really shocked," Mitchell said. "It took us totally by surprise to discover someone like this lived this close."

Shirleen Thomas, who lives about a block away but still counts as one of Lavergne's nearest neighbors, said she had never met him. Thomas said she only learned of his existence when she got a sex offender registration notice in the mail last year.

"I'm freaking out." she said. "You never know."

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This probably has nothing to do with Mickey's disappearance but has been bothering me for days and I finally found the post (https://victimsheartland.forumotion.com/t4388-indiana-police-search-for-missing-college-student-laure). I would not be surprised if there's not a serial killer on the loose (or maybe in custody now) and LE was looking for a white truck in Lauren's disappearance too.

lisette wrote:Weekend Searches Find No Sign of Missing Indiana University Student Lauren Spierer
Published June 20, 2011
Police last week released an image of Spierer leaving her Smallwood apartment complex in downtown Bloomington, wearing a white v-neck shirt and black leggings. They also released two security camera images of a white truck seen in the area at the time of Spierer's disappearance.
Authorities have described the truck as a mid-2000s shortbed four-door Chevrolet Silverado or Colorado. Police said the images show writing on the back doors and rear panels, but investigators haven't been able to read it. The truck is also described to have distinctive wheels and a short bed liner with possible equipment in the back.
Anyone with information on the vehicle or owner is urged to contact the Bloomington Police Department at (812) 339-4477 or by email at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

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WOW, Raine!! Good sleuthing! I would not be surprised at all as IIRC, Lauren had been partying, was walking alone intoxicated in the wee hours in Indiana.

Now, that's a stretch from Louisiana but these creeps seem to travel w/no problems. Heck, the truck ended up in San Jacinto County in Texas FGS!

You got it right on the circumstances with Lauren disappearing Wrap. That has been bugging me for a while now. I really wonder if more of the young blondes who are missing and seemed to go poof! are victims of this guy or some serial killer.

Like Holly?

Yeah, like Holly.

Suspect in Shunick case has troubled past
2:30 AM, Jul 8, 2012

Written by
Kris Wartelle
Claire Taylor

A picture of a troubled young man is starting to emerge of Brandon Scott Lavergne, the man arrested and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in the Mickey Shunick case.

A former classmate, Tanya Meche, who attended Church Point Middle School and Church Point High School with Lavergne, said he was a troubled teen who was bullied and harassed by classmates.

“He was bullied a lot,” said Meche. “It was really bad. He would never talk to anyone and he didn’t have any friends, even though he played football. They gave him hell.”

Meche said she often felt bad for Lavergne and worried that one day he’d snap, though she never imagined he could harm anyone.

Church Point High School yearbooks indicate Lavergne attended the school from his freshman year, 1994-1995, through his junior year, 1996-1997, Principal Lee Ward Bellard told The Daily Advertiser. Lavergne’s photograph does not appear in the following yearbook, what would have been his senior year. Bellard said records indicate Lavergne did not graduate from Church Point High.

Many people in the Church Point community know Lavergne’s father, who is supposedly very ill, Meche said. She described him as a nice man.

Meche didn’t know much about Lavergne’s mother, but she said he has a brother who has moved out of the state.

The community of Church Point is still having a hard time dealing with the news. Two women at a hair salon Saturday morning said everybody in town is talking about Lavergne’s arrest.

“We are all still in complete shock,” Meche said. “It’s just so weird.”

It’s unclear what Lavergne did after leaving Church Point High School sometime between 1997 and 1998. By April 1999, he had earned his GED and was in the U.S. Army at Fort Polk.

While at Fort Polk, he was arrested by the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with one count each of oral sexual battery and aggravated burglary.

According to police reports, around 1:30 a.m. on April 12, 1999, Lavergne allegedly climbed through the window of a home in Redell, an unincorporated area of Evangeline Parish a few miles north of Mamou. The victim’s account of what happened is that she was asleep when Lavergne entered her bedroom. She said he blindfolded her with her own shirt, tied her hands behind her back and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

Lavergne told police a different story. In his statement, Lavergne claimed he met the victim when he dated her cousin. He said she invited him to her home, that she let him in and had consensual oral sex with him.

He pleaded guilty and was convicted on Feb. 25, 2000, to the aggravated oral sexual battery charge in exchange for prosecutors dropping the aggravated burglary charge.

Lavergne was sentenced to 10 years in prison, which he served at the C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center in DeQuincy in Calcasieu Parish, said Pam Laborde, communications director with the Louisiana Department of Corrections.

While he was in prison, Lavergne was busy fighting his conviction. He filed for post-conviction relief with the 13th Judicial District Court in Evangeline Parish, claiming ineffective counsel, illegal sentencing and a violation of his constitutional rights. He was denied on all grounds on Jan. 30, 2003.

Lavergne then took his case to the Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal, but was denied at that level, too, in July 2003. His third attempt was with the Louisiana Supreme Court, where he filed a writ claiming violation of his constitutional rights. That request was denied in August 2004. He gave it one more shot in 2004, but again was denied.

In August 2008, Lavergne was released from prison “to good time parole supervision,” Laborde said. He was under supervision with the Lafayette district of probation and parole until February 2010.

“He did serve 10 years between prison and his parole release,” Laborde said. “He satisfied his sentence.”

Upon his release, Lavergne was required to register as a Tier III sex offender, which is reserved for the most serious offenders who must register for the rest of their lives. Written notices are sent to residents in the neighborhood where the registered sex offender resides.

In July 2010, Lavergne bought a piece of property in Bayou Ridge Subdivision, off U.S. 190 in rural St. Landry Parish. The purchase included a mobile home that sits on the corner of Leslie Road and Elaine Lane, according to the St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court’s office.

Neighbors said Saturday they don’t really know Lavergne. They didn’t see him much, which may be partly because he worked offshore.

Shirleen Thomas, who is a foster mother, can see the red shed in Lavergne’s back yard from her carport. She remembers receiving a card in the mail announcing that her neighbor was a registered sex offender. “I showed the girls” his picture and threw the card away, she said Saturday. “I try not to judge people.”

Her quiet neighborhood became the focus of a great deal of attention last week. On Thursday morning Thomas said she saw a black Tahoe parked at the edge of her road, which seemed odd. When she returned home later, police were all over the place, focusing on the Elaine Lane property.

A neighbor told her the owner, Brandon Scott Lavergne, had been arrested in connection with the high-profile disappearance of Mickey Shunick of Lafayette.

“It just shook me up. I wouldn’t have ever thought,” she said. “This is a quiet neighborhood. Nobody bothers nobody.”

By Saturday morning, the yellow police tape and law enforcement vehicles were gone from around Lavergne’s property. Two pieces of skirting were missing from around the mobile home, reportedly removed by police. A couple of red sports cars sat behind the mobile home, apparently unused for some time.

Neighbors mowed their lawns, stopping to chat and compare stories. The curious rode past, while Thomas’ dogs cooled off under the carport, eating a bone.

Thomas said she’s not scared, but she thinks there’s another registered sex offender nearby. She seems to recall receiving his card and photo in the mail, too. Still she’s not one to judge.

“Just ‘cause one person might have did something don’t mean the other one will,” she said, pausing before adding. “I’m still shocked.”

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Shirleen sounds like kind of a casual foster mom. You'd think if she has girls she'd pay a bit more attention to the RSO's living near her.

I thought the same thing. I would be flipping if I got not one but two of those letters. They sure would not be thrown in the trash!

I liked the dad's theory about Lavergne having help getting back from Texas. If he had help, maybe the helper will talk.

Those poor parents still hoping she's alive.

I too thought her Dad' theory was good. My heart just breaks for this family.

Wrapitup wrote:I thought the same thing. I would be flipping if I got not one but two of those letters. They sure would not be thrown in the trash!

When Megans Law was first enacted the sex offenders fliers in our area were sent home from school with my kids. That law is way to lax these days. It is up to us as Parents, guardians and Grandparents to check the sex offender base in their area on a fairly often basis. Unless the sex offender is living with in 1000 miles of a school or day care center they can live where ever they want, as long as they register. But knowing who and where they are is half the battle.

I would probably have their pics on my fridge.

Shunick searches continue after arrest
2:50 AM, Jul 10, 2012
Written by
Megan Wyatt
BREAKING NEWS: Lavergne scheduled to go to grand jury July 18

Efforts to bring Mickey Shunick home are continuing within Louisiana and outside the state's borders even after Thursday's arrest of Brandon Scott Lavergne in the case of the missing college student, a Lafayette investigator said.

Police are conducting both out-of-state and local searches for Shunick, said private investigator John Abdella, who has been working with police on the case since its beginning.

Lafayette police took Lavergne, an offshore worker from Swords, La., into custody on aggravated kidnapping and first-degree murder charges after state police arrested him Thursday on an unrelated charge near the intersection of Interstates 49 and 10. Police believe Lavergne's white Chevrolet Z71 pickup is the one captured on surveillance video the morning Shunick disappeared. They have not revealed other evidence used to charge Lavergne.

Shunick disappeared May 19, just two days before her 22nd birthday.

Abdella has received dozens of new tips since police announced Lavergne's arrest Friday afternoon at a news conference.

"Some of them had an idea of where Mickey may be, and there were different areas they wanted us to search," Abdella said. "Right now, what's going on, we're conducting different searches in different parishes and even out of state."

Cpl. Paul Mouton, spokesman with the Lafayette Police Department, said he is not aware of any out-of-state searches but did say the task force is searching for Shunick in areas that Lavergne "used or had knowledge of." Mouton also said Monday that investigators had searched Lavergne's home and the surrounding area, using dogs to cover much of the vacant territory near the property.

Although both Abdella and LPD are receiving tips from people reporting suspicious activity on their rural property, they are getting even more tips from those who knew Lavergne best.

According to a St. Landry Parish court official, records there show Lavergne was married from September 1999 to October 2000.

"I'm getting tips of people that knew Lavergne or they know members of his family or they worked with him at one time," Abdella said.

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1:32 AM, Jul 11, 2012
Written by
Claire Taylor

On July 18, a grand jury will be asked to decide whether there's probable cause to indict Brandon Scott Lavergne, 33, on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping in connection with the disappearance of University of Louisiana at Lafayette student Mickey Shunick.

"A prompt presentation to the grand jury was expected," considering the magnitude of the case and the tremendous amount of publicity it has received, said Crowley lawyer Clay Lejeune, one of Lavergne's defense attorneys.

Lavergne was arrested Thursday in connection with the disappearance of Shunick, who was last seen in the early morning hours of May 19. Surveillance video captured her riding her bicycle on St. Landry Street heading toward St. Mary Boulevard in Lafayette about 1:45AM.

A white pickup truck passed that area shortly afterward and was captured on that same video. Police believe that truck belongs to and was driven by Lavergne.

Police say they also have placed Lavergne at the location where Shunick's bicycle was found May 26 in Whiskey Bay near Interstate 10. The bike had damage to the rear wheel consistent with having been hit by a vehicle, Police Chief Jim Craft said.

The case is set to go before a grand jury at 3 p.m. July 18 in 15th Judicial District Court in Lafayette, according to District Attorney Mike Harson.

Assistant District Attorney Keith Stutes is expected to handle the case, he said.

A first-degree murder conviction can result in the death penalty or life in prison. If the state intends to seek the death penalty, the district attorney's office is required to take the case to a grand jury to determine probable cause, Lejeune said.

"The grand jury will decide if there's sufficient information, through the police investigation, to warrant charging Mr. Lavergne with either kidnapping or capital murder," he said.

Grand jury hearings are closed to the public. In this case, Lejeune said, Lavergne may not even be in the parish courthouse. He has not been asked to appear before the grand jury.

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