The St. Landry Parish Grand Jury indicted three men on murder charges for three separate incidents, according to District Attorney Chad Pitre.
Jordan Barnes, 33, was indicted for the second-degree murder of Erica Hunt. Hunt went missing in July 2016. At the time, no arrest was made the case went cold until December 2018 when human remains were found in a barn near Ville Platte. The case was reopened and with the help ofLSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) and DNA analysis, the remains were identified as Hunt in 2024. The renewed investigation by State Police led to Barnes’ arrest after he made a statement about the crime.
Joseph E. Thomas, 18, was indicted for second-degree murder of a 15-year-old on Jan. 2 in the 800 block of Joseph Street, Opelousas.
Irving Cisneros Arguelles, 24, was indicted for first-degree murder of Jorlany Osario Beitez, who was reported missing on Feb. 17. Arguelles was found in the Beggs area of La. 10 where law enforcement officers discovered the victim’s phone. Officrs also found the victim’s SUV in a field near the 3500 block of La. 10, which had been burned. Beitez was found floating deceased on the bank of nearby bayou.
Pitre explained second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. The sentence for first-degree murder is life in prison or he death penalty. Pitre’s news release states a decision on whether to seeking the death penalty has not been reached.
