Suvechha Sarkar
Louis Bonheur was living in Palmdale, California, with his live-in girlfriend, LaNell Crystal Barsock, in June 2010. However, his life turned upside down when she was found dead in their own home. The initial investigation pointed to him as the killer, owing to a false claim by LaNell’s killer, La’Rene Austin. The episode titled ‘The Breakup’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ focuses on the case and how a thorough investigation led the detectives to the actual killer. It also features an interview with Louis himself, revealing that he always wondered why La’Rene wanted to frame him for the murder.
Louis Bonheur Came Under Police Scrutiny After the Death of LaNell Barsock
Louis Bonheur is originally from Haiti and later moved to California to pursue a new path in his life. Just one year after his relocation, he crossed paths with LaNell Crystal Barsock, who had reportedly offered him a ride. They quickly grew closer, and it didn’t take long for their relationship to grow serious. In 2009, Louis and LaNell bought a new home in Palmdale, California, and moved in together. However, Louis’ life changed forever on June 16, 2010. LaNell was found dead in their home, which was reported to the authorities by her friend, La’Rene Austin. According to reports, La’Rene claimed before the authorities that when she found LaNell’s remains, she saw Louis was in the house. However, when Louis was finally contacted by law enforcement, he was reportedly at the home of LaNell’s mother, Bobbie Barsock.
Court records state that during his questioning, Louis claimed that his relationship with LaNell wasn’t strained. However, it reportedly contradicted the statements given by several of LaNell’s friends that the couple often argued, and Louis was allegedly jealous. Reports state that when Louis learned about her death, he became distraught and denied knowing anything. As per police records, during La’Rene’s questioning, she informed the officials that LaNell was dating a man named Ike, and Louis allegedly found out about the secret phone Ike had given to LaNell. According to official records, officials also learned of a text from Ike to Bobbie, in which he claimed that LaNell was afraid Louis would do something. Additionally, the deputies were once called to LaNell and Louis’ home after a reported domestic disturbance.
It is essential to note that Louis was never charged during that case. During his interrogation, Louis reportedly told detectives that on that fateful day, he was going to La’Rene’s boyfriend’s home to have his car fixed around 10:30 am. According to reports, he admitted that he returned home about 11:30 am upon finding that LaNell had continued her relationship with Ike. His visit was reportedly followed by an argument, following which LaNell and La’Rene left for a store. Police reports state that, while La’Rene claimed Louis had again begun arguing with LaNell when she returned from the store around 12:30 pm, Louis insisted he had left home around that time. One of the detectives stated that Bobbie recalled that on June 16, she saw Louis making some financial transactions and booking a flight to Miami while at her home.
Louis Bonheur Was Released From Prison as the Real Killer Began Coming to Light
To prevent Louis from leaving, the authorities reportedly booked and held Louis in the County Jail as the investigation ensued. The reports suggest that authorities uncovered CCTV footage showing him and La’Rene’s boyfriend at an auto parts store in Los Angeles. It was at least an hour away from the scene of the crime, and around the time when the murder occurred. Additionally, forensic experts discovered from his cell phone location data, which also verified that he was moving away from his house towards Los Angeles before the murder occurred. According to reports, Louis arrived at Bobbie’s house around 6 pm, indicating he was not at his home, as La’Rene initially claimed. Ultimately, Louis was released, and he was never officially charged with the murder of LaNell.
On the other hand, the forensic experts reportedly uncovered that an empty shell casing that was found at the crime scene was from the same bullet that was found in La’Rene’s bags when law enforcement checked her bag on June 16, 2010. According to court records, a bloody fingerprint, latex gloves, and a footprint were found at the crime scene, which was a complete match to La’Rene. In March 2011, the authorities officially filed a first-degree murder charge against her. She was on the run for almost two years before she was arrested in Toledo, Belize, in January 2012. La’Rene stood trial in August 2015 after being extradited to California, and she was convicted of the charge. She was sentenced to two 25 years to life in prison terms, to be served consecutively.
Louis Bonheur Currently Appears to be Leading a Private Life
Before La’Rene reportedly tried to frame Louis for LaNell’s murder, he was focused on building a unique professional trajectory for himself. Back in 2010, Louis was diligently working in the maintenance department at the city of Hawthorne, California. While recalling the time when the authorities released him from prison, one of the lead detectives on the case stated, “Louis came over to us, and he had tears coming down his face, and he hugged both me and my partner, Joe Espino.” He continued, “He shook my hand, he hugged me, and he said, Thank you.”
According to the detective, Louis had claimed that in his home country, if the police arrest someone, there is no way one can get out of it. When Louis was asked who he thought was responsible for LaNell’s murder after his release, he truthfully said, “I asked myself the same question when I was in jail. Who’s did it?” While facing the question as to why La’Rene committed the crime and tried to frame him, he expressed, “Still now, I don’t know. I don’t know why. I don’t know why. I cannot say nothing else.” Following the ordeal, Louis grieved the loss of his beloved girlfriend, wondering why someone would be so cruel as to do something like that. However, as time passed, Louis gradually moved forward in life.
As per reports, Louis eventually found love once again, and soon after, he tied the knot in the presence of his loved ones. As of writing, he has welcomed his son into his life. Louis stated that he considers his family to be a “blessing.” While speaking on the matter, he said, “I got a lot of good people around me, and I can see my wife, my son, and a lot of siblings, my friends, and as a blessing from God.” According to one report, he appears to have moved back to Haiti since the allegations left a deep emotional scar on him. Although no further reports reveal his current life, one thing remains clear: Louis has chosen to step away from the spotlight and lead a quiet life, with his family by his side.
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