Fire ruled arson, murder

State Fire Marshal investigators, with assistance from the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office, continue to string together a chain of events that culminated with the intentional burning of a manufactured home Sunday, Jan. 3, morning in an apparent attempt to conceal the murder of a female whose body was found inside the destroyed structure.
Investigators were summoned to the scene after firefighters from the Mire Volunteer Fire Department responded at approximately 6:30 a.m. Sunday to a report by a passing motorist of a residential fire located at 639 Choppys Road in Church Point. While conducting suppression efforts, firefighters found the lifeless body of a female inside the residence, which had been vacant and unoccupied for some time.

After being examined by investigators, the body, which was severely burned, was released to the Acadia Parish Coroner’s Office for autopsy.

In addition to the residence, two other structures on the property were set ablaze. Samples of fire debris were secured by investigators after an accelerant detection canine alerted to areas within the burned structures, indicating the possible use of ignitable liquid fuel(s).

Shortly afterward, investigators responded to a vehicle fire located on Black Smith Road near Brittany Road (Louisiana Highway 95) in Church Point that destroyed a 1999 Lincoln Town Car. While examining the vehicle, investigators recovered female clothing, shoes and other items of evidence.

During an initial interview with investigators, the owner of the vehicle, Kantarise Tatty Jordan Lazaro, 22, of Church Point, stated that he had no knowledge or involvement in the fires but that an associate, Nicholas James Dupuis, 33, of Crowley, had borrowed his vehicle earlier but had returned it to Lazaro’s residence.

Lazaro ultimately recanted his initial statement, admitting to investigators that he had knowledge of a homicide involving Dupuis who had solicited his assistance in disposing of the body of Dupuis’ girlfriend.

Lazaro admitted to investigators that he had followed Dupuis to a remote location in a field where he assisted Dupuis in placing the lifeless body of a female into a plastic garbage can, which was then doused with gasoline and ignited in a failed attempt to destroy the body.

After the garbage can quickly melted away, Lazaro stated that he helped Dupuis place the human remains into the Lincoln Town Car, which was driven by Dupuis. Lazaro claimed that he then departed in the vehicle he was driving and further denied any knowledge of or involvement in the murder or the aforementioned fires.

Lazaro was booked into the Acadia Parish Jail on the charge of being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. He was later released after a posting a $10,000 bond.

Preliminary findings of an autopsy conducted Monday established that the victim suffered two gunshot wounds to the upper torso. A fragment of a bullet was recovered from the body.

While a positive identification of the victim is still pending, investigators believe the body to be that of 31-year-old Shontel Denise Joseph, of Opelousas.

Dupuis is still at large, being sought by law enforcement authorities for first-degree murder and arson. Officials anticipate that additional charges will be lodged in this case.

Anyone with knowledge as to Dupuis’ whereabouts are encouraged to the contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 1-800-256-5452 or the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-788-8700.

Dupuis should be considered armed and dangerous.