In the early hours of January 23, 2017, the life of 39-year-old Donielle Connerly, a Black female from New Orleans, was tragically cut short. Her body was discovered in the waters of Bayou St. John near the 4000 block of Davey Street, a grim finding that would send ripples of grief and fear through her community. The initial reports from the New Orleans Police Department indicated that Connerly was found with a stocking tied tightly around her neck, leading investigators to quickly classify her
death as a homicide.
The news of her violent death devastated her family, who remembered her as a vibrant and loving mother of four. In the days that followed, her loved ones gathered for a candlelight vigil, their flickering flames a testament to the light she had been in their lives. Her mother, Mattie Lyons, and her aunt, Joyce Recasner, spoke of a woman who was full of life and love, and they pleaded with the public for any information that could lead to the capture of the person or persons responsible for this senseless act. The family could not fathom who would want to harm her, and their quest for answers became a painful and public appeal for justice.
In the years since Donielle Connerly’s death, her case has remained an open and active investigation for the New Orleans Police Department. Authorities have explored various leads and have sought to identify persons of interest who might hold crucial information about the events leading to her murder. Despite their efforts, which have included the review of surveillance footage, no suspects have been publicly named, and no arrests have been made in connection with her death. The case stands as a painful unsolved homicide, leaving a family to grapple with their loss and the community to hope that justice will one day be served for Donielle. The police continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward and help bring closure to her grieving family.
