Alexandria, LA (4/25/2023) – Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Detectives arrested two individuals in the LA Highway 1 North homicide investigation from last Thursday.
On April 20, 2023, at approximately 10:36 AM, Patrol Deputies responded to the 6000 block of LA Hwy 1 North about a report of a body being found in the ditch by an LA DOTD mowing crew. Deputies, Detectives, and Crime Scene investigators responded and began investigating.
The deceased person has been identified as Roechaune L. Prenell, 42, of Alexandria, LA. The cause of death appears to be gunshot wounds, but an autopsy report is still pending.
As their investigation continued into late Thursday night and the early hours of Friday morning, Detectives were able to identify Donald Ray Sias, Jr., 32, of Alexandria, as a person of interest in the homicide. From their investigation, Detectives gathered sufficient probable cause for a search warrant at a residence in the area of 1700 block Kilkenny Lane in Alexandria. Sias, Jr. was located, taken into custody without incident, and placed under arrest for contempt on non-support and convicted felon possessing a firearm. Sias, Jr. was later booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on those charges.
From their continued investigation, Detectives identified Otha Lee Tatum, Sr. as a second suspect in the homicide investigation. On April 24th, 2023, Tatum, Sr. was located and taken into custody without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center on obstruction of justice and criminal conspiracy charges. Sias, Jr., who had remained in jail, was re-arrested and re-booked for one count of carjacking, one count 2nd Degree Murder, one count of criminal conspiracy, and one count of obstruction of justice. Both Sias, Jr. and Tatum, Sr. remains in jail at the time of this release.
The bond for Sias, Jr. has been set at $1,226,000.00, and the bond for Tatum Sr. has been set at $125,000.00.
Detectives say this is still an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact Det. Jason Hagan at 318-473-6727, Crime Stoppers at 318-443-7867, or local law enforcement.
The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster app may also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a reward. P3 app: https://www.p3tips.com/community/mobile/index.htm
NOTE: Crime Stoppers is a private non-profit organization. Crime Stoppers is not a law enforcement agency.
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A law enforcement-related agency has provided this information as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal “All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Arrestee:
Donald Ray Sias, Jr., 32
Alexandria, LA
Charges:
Contempt on non-support
Convicted felon in possession of a firearm
Carjacking
2nd Degree Murder
Criminal Conspiracy
Obstruction of Justice
Arrestee:
Otha Lee Tatum, Sr., 39
Alexandria, LA
Charges:
Obstruction of Justice
