TRMC’s Hansen tapped for role at the American College of Healthcare Executives
March 21, 2007
Chabill’s Tire Traxx opened its 13th location at 4966 Hwy. 1 in Mathews in February. “The Cajun Cannon” Bobby Hebert was on hand for the kick-off celebration.
March 28, 2007
Houma Police are saying that a man who jumped off the Main Street overpass early Friday morning is connected to a double homicide that was discovered later that day in the Houma housing development, Senator’s Circle.
“At this time,” said Houma Police Chief Patrick Boudreaux, “the evidence that we do have would suggest that (the man and homicide are connected). Upon initial review, it seems to be where the investigation is going.”
Houma Police received calls that 26-year-old David Lee Mitchell had climbed the guard fence at the top of the twin-spans. Upon arrival, police asked Mitchell to come down. Instead, Mitchell jumped into the Intracoastal Canal.
When police saw Mitchell treading water, they went down to assist him. “He was alive and treading water at the bottom when police officers tried to convince him to come back to the side,” said Boudreaux. “He seemingly, intentionally went under water and never came back up again.”
Boudreaux said police officers unsuccessfully dove in to save the man.
Mitchell’s body was recovered around 10:30 a.m.
At 10:49 a.m., a Houma Police officer located in Senator’s Circle responded to a resident who said a friend was not answering her door. When officers arrived, they found the bodies of 20-year-old Frederica Coleman and her 4-year-old daughter.
While police are awaiting autopsy reports to determine the cause of death, Boudreaux said it resulted “from a cutting,” using an “edged weapon.”
Mitchell and the woman have been linked as having an estranged relationship. The four-year-old girl was their daughter.
“They have been able to link that the man who jumped into the Intracoastal Waterway was the boyfriend of the victim,” said Boudreaux. “The understanding is that the young girl is the daughter of both the victim and the man.
“I think they had an off-relationship,” he added. “He had been forbidden from the residence. I don’t know the circumstances or dynamics of whether or not they occasionally saw one another, but I have not yet heard of any indication that they were still boyfriend and girlfriend.”
Through interviews with people at the scene, Boudreaux said there may have been an argument between Mitchell and Coleman, the night before. “There’s some suggestion that that she was having trouble with him the night before,” the police chief said, “but police weren’t involved. There were some family members that had that information.”
Still, after interviewing a Senator Circle resident, Boudreaux said he can understand why people might not have called.
“I don’t know exactly what they heard,” said Boudreaux. “I don’t know the circumstances. I actually interviewed one of the people that heard something, and from what she said, I can understand how she wasn’t terribly alarmed. She did investigate, and I guess she made a determination that the police weren’t necessary.”
Houma Police spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis said Mitchell had a lengthy criminal history, stemming “aggravated crimes” to narcotics.
David Lee Mitchell
