Zachary Police and Zachary Fire/Rescue personnel were called to the scene of a brutal homicide on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at Carter’s Washateria located at 3380 Hwy. 19. From left: Zachary officer Sgt. Trevor Hannum, EBR coroner representative, ZFD Capt. Ronald Hives and Todd Phenald.
Zachary Police and Zachary Fire/Rescue responded to the grisly scene of the shooting which took place at Carter’s Washateria, 3380 Hwy. 19, in Zachary on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Reports stated a customer called police and said a woman was "handcuffed and bleeding."
By the time officers arrived on the scene, the woman had died from multiple gunshots. Dupuy was also found to have kiddie handcuffs on her wrists, according to reports.
Zachary Police questioned Dupuy's fiance the night of the shooting but released him; police say they were still collecting evidence at that point in the investigation.
A shocking new twist in the case has developed regarding Dupuy's murder, one that has some Zachary citizens completely outraged.
Dupuy's fiance, David Brown, 36, of Zachary, still a person of interest in the case, has qualified to run for office as Zachary police chief in the Oct. 2 election. Brown qualified on July 7 along with other campaigners.
"David Brown is the main suspect in this case." said Capt. David McDavid, ZPD. "But we are also trying to locate Jenaro James, 34, of 4984 Avenue D, Zachary, as he is also person of interest."
McDavid said James may being staying in or near Brownsfield and asks anyone who may know of his whereabouts to immediately contact Zachary Police at 654-9393 or Crime Stoppers at 344-STOP (7867).
According to reports, Brown and Dupuy were living together in an apartment on McHugh Road at the time of her death and Brown told investigators he was at home when the shooting occurred.
In a television interview soon after Dupuy's murder, Brown told a news reporter he would cooperate with Zachary Police by agreeing to a polygraph test.
"When we contacted him to take that polygraph test, he told us his attorney advised him not to take the test," McDavid said. "He also could not or would not provide us with the name of his attorney."
"If he (Brown) wanted to cooperate fully, then why not take a polygraph?" McDavid asked.
Brown was a corrections officer at Angola at the time of Dupuy's murder, but has since been relieved of his employment there.
Brown, who does have an arrest record, does not have a felony which would prevent him from qualifying as police chief.
"I have been cleared in this investigation," Brown said leaving City Hall after qualifying.
McDavid, who maintains Brown has definitely not been cleared in the homicide investigation, said, "If a person is going to run for an office such as police chief, then run for the right reasons."
The Zachary Plainsman asked Brown for an in-depth interview on July 7 but Brown said he had travel plans and could not oblige our request at that time.
If Brown isn't qualified -- it's fair game for the Chief to say so. He's the candidate. A police officer working for the department has no business getting involved, whether it's directly (by making a political statement) or indirectly (as was done here, by making a political statement disguised as a police statement). If Brown is charged with this murder, rest assured his defense counsel will have a field day with these comments, pointing out that it was only after Brown qualified for the election that an article appeared stating that the department just decided to name suspects.
No one with sense is going to believe that Brown's newly-found status as a suspect isn't tied to the fact that he decided to run. That's a real shame if he's innocent, because the official powers of the Zachary PD are being misused for political purposes. But it's equally a shame if he's guilty, because this nonsense unnecessarily complicates his prosecution.
The Chief needs to tell his officers to stay out of politics and focus on police work.