A grand jury Wednesday indicted serial killer suspect Derrick Todd Lee for the murder of Charlotte Murray Pace.
Police found Pace’s body May 31, 2002 in her Sharlo town house. DNA evidence from the crime scene matched samples Lee provided.
District Attorney Doug Moreau told the media outside the courthouse Wednesday afternoon that prosecutors only sought the indictment for this case because “we thought that was the right decision to make with all things considered.”
Moreau hopes to bring Lee to trial for Pace’s case and bring in evidence from other crimes including that of Lafayette victim Trineisha Dene Colomb. Louisiana law allows this procedure in certain circumstances.
When asked if the prosecution would seek indictments for any of the other murders, First Assistant District Attorney John Sinquefield said “simply put, it’s a serial prosecution.”
Prosecutors still can indict Lee for any or all of the other cases but it would result in a separate trial. A trial for Colomb’s case also must be tried in Lafayette.
The prosecution will try Lee in Baton Rouge with Judge Richard Anderson presiding, pending any change of venue requests from Lee’s lawyers, Moreau said.
“East Baton Rouge will provide jurors that will conduct a fair trial,” he said.
Officials released no details of the grand jury hearing because law requires proceedings to remain secret. Moreau said he would not give his thoughts on the hearing at this time.
“The time to reflect on it will come at the end,” he said.