Coronor: 72 Murders, Could Top 100 in 2012

by Woody Jenkins, Editor

BATON ROUGE — Newly-elected Coroner Dr. Beau Clark said Tuesday there have been 72 murders committed in East Baton Rouge Parish since Jan. 1, 2012.

At this rate, the number of murders in the parish could exceed 100 for the year — an all-time record.

This would place the parish as one of the most dangerous places to live in America, on par with some of the nation’s most crime-ridden large cities.

In addition, Dr. Clark said he is investigating another 18 deaths in the parish to determine the cause of death.  Many of those could also be ultimately classified as murders, he said.

Crime is likely to be a leading issue in the race for Mayor-President with incumbent Kip Holden having said earlier this year that he was “happy with where crime is” in the parish, while challenger Mike Walker says citizens in the parish are living in fear while locked inside their homes.  Holden said an additional 30 police officers are needed on the streets while Walker said at least 75 more are needed.