In the quiet of a New Orleans East home, the life of 40-year-old Kimberly Gerdes was brought to a violent and tragic end. In June of 2015, an armed intruder broke into the residence on Curran Boulevard, a place that should have been a sanctuary for Gerdes and her fiancé. What transpired next was a swift and brutal act of violence that would leave two people dead and a community in shock.
Gerdes, a female, was asleep in her bed when she was shot in the head, an unsuspecting victim of a senseless crime.
The evening's horror did not begin with Gerdes. Her fiancé had just welcomed a friend, 38-year-old Cinque Rashad Stallworth, into their home when the gunman, who had seemingly followed Stallworth, forced his way inside. The intruder's intent was immediately clear as he opened fire, fatally wounding Stallworth. The gunman then turned his attention to Gerdes' fiancé, who managed to escape the initial barrage of bullets and flee to another part of the house in a desperate attempt to protect himself and the sleeping Kimberly. Tragically, the assailant made his way to the bedroom and fired the fatal shot that claimed Gerdes' life.
In the aftermath of the double homicide, the New Orleans Police Department launched an intensive investigation. The primary witness, Gerdes' devastated fiancé, provided a description of the shooter, which led to the creation and public release of a composite sketch. The image depicted a man believed to be responsible for the brutal slayings, but despite this crucial piece of potential evidence, a suspect was never publicly identified. The motive for the attack remained elusive, leaving friends, family, and investigators to grapple with the unanswered questions surrounding the violent intrusion.
As the initial investigation failed to yield an arrest, the case of Kimberly Gerdes and Cinque Rashad Stallworth was eventually handed over to the New Orleans Police Department's cold case division. Years have passed since the shocking events of that June night, and despite the efforts of law enforcement, the case remains unsolved. There have been no arrests made, and no suspects have been named in connection with the murders. The composite sketch of the unknown assailant serves as a lingering reminder of the justice that has yet to be served. For the loved ones of Kimberly Gerdes and Cinque Rashad Stallworth, the pain of their loss is compounded by the absence of closure, as the individual responsible for their deaths remains at large.
