Published: February 25, 2008 10:46 pm      

Autopsy pending on body found near tracks

By Debby Schamber

The Orange Leader



The body of twenty-year-old Ronald Lynn Garrett, of Orange, was discovered by Orange Police officers a little after 2 a.m. Sunday. The body was located near the railroad tracks in the area of Cordrey Street and Bob Hall Road.

Garrett had obvious head injuries and significant injuries to both arms, according to reports.

According to police reports, Garrett’s body was cold to the touch and showed no viable signs of life.

Orange County Precinct 3 Judge Janice Menard arrived at the scene a short time later and pronounced Garrett dead. Menard ordered an autopsy, however, no results were released as of press time Monday.

“[Garrett’s death] appears to be natural,” said Orange Police Capt. Sparky Robinson. “We are still waiting on preliminary autopsy reports and toxicology reports.”

The case is still under investigation by detectives.



Teen reports kidnapping and assault



A 17-year-old Orange woman reported to police Sunday that three days prior she had been kidnapped and sexually assaulted. The woman said she was taken from her home in the 100 block of Pine Street sometime between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Thursday. She told the officers she was forced into a vehicle by two men and sexually assaulted at an unknown location in Louisiana. The victim was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital after meeting with Orange Police officers. According to OPD, the suspects in this case remain at large.



Domestic disturbance prompts victim to cross state lines



A Crowley, La. woman reported to police Sunday she was afraid to return home after her husband reportedly threatened her life. The 36-year-old woman told an officer she was at her residence in Louisiana when her husband, who she believed to have taken OxyContin, became violent.

She reported to police her husband had a handgun and allegedly held it to her head and threatened to kill her. The woman said she called a friend over to the house who convinced her husband to put the gun down. The victim said her husband also pushed her down and then began kicking her. The friend was once again reportedly able to intervene.

The woman said he also took the phone away so police could not be called. She reported she was later able to get to a phone where she called a relative to help get her out of the house. After leaving the residence, the victim said she went to pick up her children and fled to Texas.

The woman informed police there was a history of family violence in her household. The officer contacted Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office to make a report about the event and was informed the woman would have to return to make a report on Monday. The victim refused, however, stating she was too afraid to return to Louisiana. The OPD officer agreed to take the initial report and forward the information to the detective division in Louisiana.