For nearly two years the cause of Brittney Fontenot’s death has been the subject of investigation.
There were reports of FBI agents, Louisiana State Police investigators and Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s deputies asking questions and conducting interviews.
On Thursday, the focus tightened on her death as Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory announced that Brittney’s husband, Ray Charles Fontenot Jr., is named in an arrest warrant issued Wednesday for one count of second-degree murder.
His bail was set at $2 mllion.
Ray Fontenot, 33, of L’anse Aux Pailles Road, Chataignier, was taken into custody without incident by Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputies and taken to Evangeline Parish.
The sheriff’s news released explained that deputies were dispatched to the Fontenot residence in Chataignier on April 13, 2023, about a suicide reported by the deceased’s husband, Ray Charles Fontenot Jr.
Thursday’s news release states:
“Upon arrival, deputies were told by the suspect Ray Fontenot, that his wife, Brittney Fontenot had committed suicide by shooting herself three times in the head. The suspect advised that while he was getting ready for work, he could hear what he believed to be a popping noise in the living room area of the residence. When he went to see what caused the noise, he observed the victim having one gunshot wound under her chin. When the suspect approached the victim, she obtained another gun/pistol inside the safe and shot herself a second time in the head.
“The suspect further indicated that he and the victim were involved in a struggle inside and outside of the residence. Once they entered the residence again; the victim pointed the gun to her head once more and fired another shot causing her the fatal wound.”
The news released continued, “During this suspicious death investigation, there was reason to believe that the death was not a suicide. Due to these circumstances, the Criminal Investigation Division requested the assistance of the Louisiana State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. After almost a two-year investigation, Investigators were able to establish enough evidence to obtain an arrest warrant for Ray Fontenot with one count of second-degree murder.”
Brittany Fontenot was 31 years old at the time of her death. Survivors included three children. She worked at Rehab Excel Physicial Therapy in Eunice.
The sheriff stated the investigation is continuing.
Wife’s death once reported as a suicide is now a murder case
In 2023 Brittney Fontenot’s husband reported her death as a suicide. The 31-year-old mother of 3 had been shot 3 times in the head.