EAST BATON ROUGE - In August, there were three separate murder-suicides related to domestic violence across the parish within 14 days.

On August 3rd, 54-year-old Alanna Singleton was killed by her boyfriend, 54-year-old Paul Varnado, in Central. The next day, August 4th, 24-year-old Kyra Hayes was killed by her boyfriend, Brendon Ely, in Baker. On August 13th, 55-year-old Mirtalarellana Ramirez was shot near Florida Boulevard by her boyfriend, Guadalupe Reyes Vasquez.

District Attorney Hillar Moore says this marks five domestic-violence-related murder-suicides this year, surpassing the average of two to three cases. He notes the last time they saw this increase was during the COVID years.

Advocates warn that domestic abuse often begins with one person seeking control over their partner

See Full Page