Suspected serial killer arrested

A multi-jurisdictional task force may have cracked a 10-year cold case possibly involving 21 victims, spanning six parishes.

Kris Wartelle, spokesperson for the State of Louisiana Attorney General’s office, among various members of the task force, came together Friday, in Houma, to announce the arrest Ronald J. Dominique, 42, who was currently residing with family at 2215 Bayou Black Rd. in Houma.

Dominique was arrested without incident for the murders and rape of Manuel Reed and the murder of Oliver LeBanks.

LeBanks was 26 years of age at the time authorities found his body on Oct. 5, 1998, at 6900 Stable Dr. in Metairie. Six months later, Reed was found on May 30, 1999, at 2433 Bain Bridge in nearby Kenner and was 19 years old at the time.

The charges of first-degree murder and aggravated rape would warrant the death penalty in Louisiana.

Authorities said LeBanks and Reed were found strangled, both without one shoe, shirtless and in remote areas, possibly linking other victims dating back to 1997. Of the 21 possible victims 15 were found in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, according to Terrebonne Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, a task force member.

Leads and what Leslie Bonano, head of investigations for the attorney general office, called “old-fashioned police work” brought Dominique’s name to the forefront. He was under police surveillance for an “extended amount of time.”

There has been no forensic evidence like that which led to the conviction of Derrick Todd Lee and the arrest and reported confessions of Sean Vincent Gillis, according to authorities.

“This is an open investigation and as we are standing here, we have men throughout the entire area who are actively working, pursuing other leads and we do believe we will have more information to come,” said Banano.

According to authorities, Dominique recently moved to the area and was employed with the Bunk House Inn on Main Street in Houma and had lived in each of the parishes where investigations are currently taking place: Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Charles, Assumption, Iberville.

Each of the six parish’s sheriff’s offices supported the task force as well as the Houma Police and Kenner Police Departments, Louisiana State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

There is no apparent motive for Dominique’s actions but he has a previous criminal history, according to authorities. Whether his record is violent in nature, authorities would not say.

“We have quite a bit of information that we have developed over a long period of time and it’s all going to be coming out pretty soon,” said Banano.

At the time of the press conference, Friday evening, Dominique had not given an official statement.

Authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact either the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 876-2500 or Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (985) 449-2255.