Baton Rouge Homicide Task Force officials released Thursday what they say is significant evidence in the serial killer investigation.
Sheriff Mike Neustrom of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office said investigators found a footprint near the Dene Colomb murder in Lafayette.
“This is significant because this is appealing to a person or acquaintance of that individual that may recognize this shoe,” Neustrom said.
The shoe found at the crime scene is a size 10 to 11 shoe. It matches a brand found in most sporting stores around the area, particularly Academy Sports and JC Penney’s, Neustrom said.
The shoe is the Adidas brand Buzzer Beater or Give-n-Go models, Neustrom said.
“There is some change in footwear he was wearing,” Neustrom said. “This is a clenching piece of evidence for those who know him.”
Officials also released information concerning a ring left unaccounted for after the Colomb murder. The ring has a gold band with the word “love” spelled out on the front.
Officials are unsure if the ring was missing before the murder, Neustrom said.
The Reveille reported in September that other items were found missing after each murder.
Police recovered a Nokia 3510 cell phone belonging to Gina Green behind a building at 1546 Choctaw St. a week after her death. Green’s blue, black, pink, yellow and green striped purse also is missing.
Items unaccounted for after the Charlotte Murray Pace murder include Pace’s Mississippi driver’s license, a small black and brown Louis Vuitton wallet with zip pocket and a BMW keychain with a key attached, a black V-Tech portable handset and a sterling silver ring.
The only unaccounted item in the Pam Kinamore murder is a silver toe ring.
Neustrom said the momentum is building and the evidence is increasing, but the involvement of the public is critical.
“We are urging people to be active in their response,” Neustrom said.
Investigators are continuing to canvass the Lafayette area and surrounding areas for information, Neustrom said.
“The white truck continues to pop up,” Neustrom said, referring to the vehicle witnesses saw near Colomb’s car the day of her murder and the vehicle seen exiting Interstate 10 at Whiskey Bay the day Kinamore was murdered.
Since the beginning of the Task Force investigation, police have received more than 11,700 tips through the tipline, Cpl. Mary Ann Godawa of the Baton Rouge Police Department said.
Godawa said when anyone calls in a tip, they need to give as much detail about the person as possible. If someone calls in a vehicle, she said to give a license plate number or any identifying marks of the truck.
“The picture is becoming clearer,” Neustrom said. “He has avoided investigators at this point, but detectives are working hard and will continue to work hard.”
Anyone with information can call the tipline at 389-3310.