Domestic Violence continues to be a troubling scourge of our community. With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it was fitting that two cases ended the month that I would like to highlight to you, that brought some measure of justice for these victims of domestic violence and their families. To all victims, friends, or relatives of domestic violence victims reading this message, even if you did not or do not personally know these victims, please remember these cases and pray for these victims and all victims of domestic violence.
I start with a Shreveport man accused of fatally beating 23-year-old Heaven Weed to death in early March 2023, who was found guilty as-charged of second-degree murder by a Caddo jury October 30.
The nine-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court deliberated less than an hour before returning its unanimous guilty verdict against Brandon Wayne Lindsey, 36.
On March 2, 2023, Ms. Weed was brought to Ochsner LSU Health hospital by her mother after she was found unconscious and unresponsive at her home. Her extensive injuries included swelling of the brain, fractured ribs, lacerations and bruising all over her body.
Surveillance video showed her at a local nightspot with Lindsey the night of March 1 to early March 2.
Police responding to Ms. Weed’s residence, where Lindsey had been living about a month, noted a strong smell of bleach and other cleansing products. Officers documented blood spatter in the living room, kitchen and pantry and noted multiple locations where blood appeared to have been wiped.
Crime scene investigators recovered multiple items from the washer, including a mattress topper, pillow and towel, all containing the victim’s blood. Lindsey’s clothing worn at the club also contained the victim’s blood.
After a week in the hospital, Ms. Weed died from her closed-head traumatic brain injury. Her organs were donated.
A previous girlfriend of Lindsey’s testified of the abuse she suffered at his hands for years, with injuries including black eyes, fractured ribs and a broken jaw. She recounted instances where he dragged her by her hair, kicked her in the head and struck her with his fist in her face. Her injuries were so significant she experienced seizures as a result. She testified she had to get dental implants due to damage to her teeth.
Lindsey has multiple convictions for domestic-related charges in Bossier Parish dating back to 2010.
When Lindsey returns to Judge Victory’s court for sentencing December 8, he faces a mandatory life sentence at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
Also I highlight a Shreveport man accused of beating his wife and breaking numerous bones in her face last year, who pleaded guilty as-charged to domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury, a felony, in Caddo District Court October 27.
On September 16, 2024, six-foot-eight-inch Kaltrai Williams, 28, attacked his wife when she arrived home from work, striking her with his fist and breaking several bones, including an orbital bone, nasal bones, a cheekbone and sinuses.
Over the victim’s reluctance, the case was prosecuted by the D.A.’s Special Victims Unit prosecutors Britney Green and Ron Stamps due to the extent of the injuries inflicted.
When Williams returns to Judge Ramona Emanuel’s court for sentencing December 10, he faces up to eight years in prison.
These two cases highlight in short the myriad complexities in domestic violence: that domestic violence knows no color; that it knows no difference between the married and unmarried; that the abuser can have a prior known history of violence or a sudden rage; and that the victim can run the sad gamut from deceased, to uncooperative, to the cooperation of a prior victim of abuse.
My office will continue the fight not only to prosecute domestic abusers, even through the complexities that always arise, but to also provide resources for victims who are not even yet involved in an arrest, to help them leave the domestic violence situation.
At your service,
James E. Stewart Sr.
Caddo Parish District Attorney