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The Investigative Unit
4/2/2025
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: BRPD officer above legal limit when fiery crash happened, leaked document says
Posted 5:38 PM 4/2/2025 by Bess Casserleigh & Logan Cullop
ZACHARY - A document leaked to the WBRZ Investigative Unit shows what several sources had been telling us all along: Baton Rouge Police Officer Loren Gaskin was under the influence when he totaled an unmarked police unit in Zachary on March 16.
On Wednesday, we received the document and (More)
4/1/2025
Man who killed pregnant girlfriend and threw toddler off bridge avoids trial, pleads guilty to manslaughter and feticide
Posted 12:24 PM 4/1/2025 by The Investigative Unit
BATON ROUGE - A man accused of killing his girlfriend, who was pregnant with his child at the time, and the woman's 2-year-old son pleaded guilty (More)
3/31/2025
Trial of man accused of sexually abusing foster kids to begin Tuesday
Posted 10:20 PM 3/31/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - The trial of a man accused of sexually abusing three of his foster children will begin Tuesday. Michael Hadden, now 54, has been sitting in jail for (More)
3/27/2025
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: West Feliciana Port Commission members allege wrongdoing in data center land deal
Posted 6:50 PM 3/31/2025 by Logan Cullop & Bess Casserleigh
Update: The day after WBRZ Investigative Unit's report aired, we learned a complaint will be filed with the State Ethics Board concerning whether parish officials profited from the land deal.
Read the original story below:
(More)...3/25/2025
Appeals judge decides that Madison Brooks' sexual history is not applicable in rape case
Posted 9:16 AM 3/26/2025 by Logan Cullop & Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - An appeals court has ruled that defense lawyers cannot use Madison Brooks' sexual history in their attempt to combat rape charges.
Arrest documents (More)
3/21/2025
A deep dive into the City-Parish's red light ticket program and why it could be illegal
Posted 9:16 AM 3/22/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE — A program that generates millions of dollars every year for the City-Parish may be illegal, according to a civil suit currently pending in the First Circuit.
"When this program was started, the ordinance that established put the program under the control of DPW. Well (More)
3/20/2025
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Without victim testimony, domestic violence cases often get dismissed - but not in the 19th JDC
Posted 7:38 PM 3/20/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
BATON ROUGE - In April 2024, East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore was candid with WBRZ about one of the worst allegations of domestic violence he had ever seen.
"I've been around 50 years and when I read this one, I was extremely shaken on this one. It was completely different (More)
3/19/2025
Serial burglar arrested in Livingston Parish has extensive criminal history, no real jail time
Posted 11:44 AM 3/20/2025 by Bess Casserleigh
Over the last 10 years, Baker resident Burnell Cannon has been arrested at least a dozen times for different crimes but hasn't served any formal prison time.
Now, the 28-year-old is facing 16 counts of simple burglary out of Livingston Parish.
"He has an issue that he is going to (More)
3/18/2025
Toxicology results pending for BRPD officer involved in crash while driving unmarked car
Posted 9:25 PM 3/18/2025 by Logan Cullop & Bess Casserleigh
ZACHARY - Toxicology results are pending for a Baton Rouge Police officer who was involved in a fiery off-duty crash in Zachary on Sunday night.
The WBRZ Investigative Unit learned that Officer Loren Gaskin was driving an unmarked BRPD car along Zachary-Slaughter Highway near (More)
3/17/2025
BRPD officer placed on leave after fiery crash in unmarked police unit
Posted 10:10 PM 3/17/2025 by Logan Cullop & Bess Casserleigh
ZACHARY - A Baton Rouge Police officer has been placed on administrative leave after they were involved in a fiery crash while driving an unmarked police car off duty.
The WBRZ Investigative Unit learned the wreck happened along Zachary-Slaughter Highway near Church Street on Sunday night. (More)...
3/14/2025
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: State Police captain's blood test shows twice the legal driving limit for alcohol
Posted 9:52 PM 3/14/2025 by WBRZ staff
BATON ROUGE - The State Police captain accused of crashing into a Baton Rouge Police car and another vehicle in late February had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit for driving, according to a police report.
Belinda Murphy, who has since retired from State Police, got a blood test (More)
3/11/2025
New arrest documents detail last moments before Caleb Wilson's hazing death
Posted 12:24 PM 3/12/2025 by Logan Cullop
BATON ROUGE - Arrest documents for three members of the Southern University Omega Psi Phi fraternity detail the last moments of Caleb Wilson's life before he collapsed and died during an underground hazing (More)
3/12/2025
INVESTIGATIVE: Third Southern student arrested in hazing death of Caleb Wilson bonds out for $25K
Posted 6:53 AM 3/12/2025 by WBRZ Staff
BATON ROUGE - A third Omega Psi Phi fraternity member and "Dean of Pledges" was arrested for his alleged involvement in the hazing death of Southern University (More)
3/10/2025
INVESTIGATIVE: Second student arrested for hazing, linked to death of Southern fraternity pledge
Posted 3:57 PM 3/11/2025 by WBRZ Staff
BATON ROUGE - A second student allegedly connected to the hazing death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson was taken into custody in West Baton Rouge (More)
3/7/2025
BRPD: Two more suspects pending arrest in Caleb Wilson hazing investigation; further details sparse
Posted 9:03 PM 3/7/2025 by The Investigative Unit
BATON ROUGE - At a news conference Friday morning, the Baton Rouge Police Chief said two more suspects are pending arrest in an investigation into the death of Southern University student (More)
