The Tuscaloosa Police Department arrested two suspects in the arson and burglary of Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser’s home in Plaquemines Parish.
Nungesser is a Republican who was first elected in 2015 and is suggested as a potential gubernatorial candidate for 2023.
Robbery in Plaquemines Parish
Two individuals broke into Nungesser’s 9,000-square-foot house on the Mississippi River. A pest control worker discovered the break-in on Thursday, April 14.
Police said the intruders stole thousands of dollars of sports memorabilia, rare coins, silver and other collectibles and then set the house on fire.
Nungesser told Nola.com that he thought the burglars broke through the back door. They also smashed antique china and took a large quantity of liquor.
Nungesser said there were bloodstains and suspected the burglars may have injured themselves while smashing a glass frame containing a New Orleans Saints jersey, which belonged to linebacker and Pro Football Hall-of-Famer Rickey Jackson.
The small fire occurred in the kitchen during the burglary.
Nungesser and his wife now live in Covington, Louisiana and are trying to sell the 65-acre (26-hectare) property along the Mississippi River south of Jesuit Bend. Hurricane Ida did heavy damage to the 9,000-square-foot (836-square-meter) house, which Nungesser said is 25 to 30 years old.
Assessors records show the couple bought the property for $369,900 in 1997, Nola.com reported.
The Nungessers were moving items to their new house when the burglary occurred.
The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office (PPSO) named 43-year-olds Robert Kelly and Angela Goodfellow of Slidell, Louisiana, as suspects.
Arrests made in Tuscaloosa
The PPSO worked with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department in Mississippi and the Tuscaloosa Police Department (TPD) to track down Kelly and Goodfellow.
On Wednesday, TPD officers were informed that Kelly and Goodfellow might be in the area of Beauty Mark on Skyland Boulevard driving a maroon Jeep Cherokee. Police responded around 3pm and arrested the suspects.
Both Kelly and Goodfellow are being held in the Tuscaloosa County jail awaiting extradition to Louisiana. They face charges of burglary and simple arson.
The PPSO said additional charges may be pending as the investigation continues.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email will.blakely@1819news.com.
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