In November of 1984, the life of Gary S. Kergan, a 34-year-old businessman from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was tragically cut short, leaving behind a family to grapple with his sudden and mysterious disappearance. At the time, Gary was a married man with a young son and, alongside his brother, was the co-owner of a successful chain of Sonic drive-in restaurants in southern Louisiana. On the evening of November 28, 1984, he was last seen leaving the Night Spot Lounge on Plank Road in Baton Rouge.
He was not alone; accompanying him was a teenage exotic dancer named Leila 'Erika' Mulla. It was reported that Gary was carrying a significant amount of cash, around $2,000, and wearing jewelry valued at $8,000 at the time he went missing. The hours that followed his departure from the lounge would unfold into a complex and disturbing case that would take decades to resolve.
The initial investigation into Gary's disappearance quickly pointed towards foul play. His late-model pink Cadillac was discovered abandoned in Metairie, Louisiana, a discovery that sent a chill through the investigation as puddles of blood were found in the trunk. Suspicion soon fell upon Mulla and her boyfriend, Ronald Delton Dunnagan. Investigators believed that the couple had murdered Gary inside their apartment on Byron Street. A search of their residence uncovered evidence of a violent struggle, including the presence of bloodstains. Further implicating the pair were entries found in Mulla's diary, which seemed to indicate a plan to murder Gary. Following the disappearance, Mulla and Dunnagan fled to Las Vegas, Nevada, but were apprehended and charged with murder. During questioning, Mulla implicated Dunnagan in the crime. However, the case against them faltered. Mulla refused to testify against Dunnagan, and despite one of the most extensive searches in Baton Rouge history, Gary's body could not be located. Lacking sufficient evidence to secure a conviction, the charges were dropped, and both Mulla and Dunnagan were released three months after their arrest. For years, the case grew cold, leaving Gary's family without answers.
Over two and a half decades later, advancements in forensic science provided a new path to justice. The case was reopened, and in December 2012, both Mulla and Dunnagan were arrested again for Gary's murder. The crucial breakthrough came from DNA testing, which confirmed that the blood found in the apartment belonged to Gary Kergan. In the spring of 2014, facing the renewed charges, Leila Mulla pleaded guilty to manslaughter and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution against Dunnagan. During his trial in 2015, Mulla testified that they had poisoned Gary's wine and that Dunnagan then smothered him. Based on this testimony and the new evidence, Ronald Dunnagan was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Although Gary Kergan was declared legally dead in 1986, his body has never been found. The case of his disappearance is a somber tale of a promising life cut short by a brutal act of violence, and the long and arduous journey of his family to find a measure of closure.Last Seen: Nov 28, 1984
