Here's Why Jennings Sheriff Ricky Edwards Didn't Run for Reelection

If you might be observing ‘Murder in the Bayou,’ you undoubtedly have numerous questions about Ricky Edwards, the Jennings sheriff on the time. What we all know.

The Showtime docuseries Murder in the Bayou has raised a large number of questions about how the murders of 8 girls in Jefferson Davis Parish, La. were handled by way of local legislation enforcement — with some within the the town even thinking local sheriffs were concerned. Whether that is true or now not, it is undeniable that the elected sheriff at the time, Ricky Edwards, misplaced the consider of many people in his jurisdiction.

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Here's why families of victims lost accept as true with in former Jennings Sheriff Ricky Edwards.

According to investigator Ethan Brown and the various witnesses and surviving members of the family, the Jeff Davis 8 murders stay unsolved for causes beyond lack of proof or an inept investigation due to lack of revel in or resources. 

They believe deputies had been involved within the murders and their subsequent cover-ups, and additional allege that Edwards both overlooked or unnoticed corruption in his division.

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The greatest controversy is over the movements of leader investigator Warren Gary, who bought the truck that used to be said to be the final position where victim Kristen Gary Lopez was noticed alive. This was once problematic for the reason that truck was once considered a possible crime scene, and Gary made a benefit off its sale ahead of it may well be processed. Though he didn't face felony charges for this, he paid a $10,000 wonderful to the Louisiana Board of Ethics.

Rather than suspend or fire Gary for this ethics violation, Sheriff Edwards made Gary head of the county's evidence room. For Jennings citizens who concern grimy law enforcement officials had been fascinated with a number of of the murders, this looked like an odd and relating to transfer on the part of Edwards, in step with native reporter Scott Lewis. It also raised pink flags for investigative journalist Ethan Brown, who wrote the e book that serves as the root for the collection.

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Two feminine inmates additionally reported police proof tampering to any other officer, Jesse Ewing. But as a substitute of investigating the ones claims, the department investigated and terminated Ewing for "failure to follow chain of custody" when he saved a replica of the interview, fearing the tapes could be destroyed.

As for the investigation into the murders themselves, Edwards and his task pressure have at all times asserted that the 8 girls had been most probably killed via a serial killer, but regardless of making arrests on two events, the charges didn't stick. 

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Of route this occurs all the time, and the D.A.'s determination to not pursue the case doesn't mean anyone like Frankie Richard, who had connections to seven of the 8 victims, is blameless. It may simply imply they don't feel assured there may be sufficient evidence to safe a conviction.

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Many in Jennings argue, then again, that the lack of sufficient evidence to prosecute is by way of design. Rather than feeling one person is responsible for the eight deaths, it seems they really feel probably the most girls have been killed due to being witness to police corruption, whether that be drug use, sex trafficking, or in a single case, the unlawful shooting of a civilian.

Locals also have been concerned in regards to the loss of police passion in investigating reviews about Jennings warden Danny Berry, who used to be believed to have solicited most of the ladies. Both Gary and Berry are deceased, so the suspicions about their possible corruption might never be glad.

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Sheriff Edwards didn't search re-election in 2011 and left place of job in 2012. He was succeeded by means of Sheriff Ivy Woods and joined the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association where he works in operations improve.

Murder within the Bayou airs new episodes Fridays on Showtime and at the Showtime Anytime app.

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