A simmering domestic dispute erupted into a horrifying display of violence on an early April morning in a quiet Louisiana neighborhood just outside of New Orleans. The tragic events that unfolded would leave one man dead, another wounded, and a young woman terrorized, forever altering the lives of all involved. The catalyst for this brutal outburst was Leo Mitchell, who, on April 2, 2000, forced his way into a home on Pollack Street in Kenner. It was approximately 7:00 a.m.
when Mitchell, armed and dangerous, breached the residence of his former girlfriend, Elena Smith. Inside were several members of her family, completely unaware of the impending nightmare.
With cold precision, Mitchell opened fire, his bullets finding their mark. Henry Porter, the patriarch of the family, was fatally wounded in the violent intrusion. Another family member, Howard Bardell, was also shot but survived his injuries. The chaos and terror within the home reached a crescendo as Mitchell, having now committed murder and attempted murder, turned his attention to his intended target. He grabbed Elena Smith, who was clad only in a t-shirt and underwear, and dragged her from the house at gunpoint, forcing her into the woods surrounding the property. His control over the terrified young woman was absolute as he compelled her toward Airline Highway, a desperate and dangerous flight from the scene of his heinous crimes.
Mitchell's escape with his hostage continued as he managed to secure a cab on Airline Highway, intending to flee towards New Orleans. During their harrowing journey through the woods, Smith witnessed Mitchell discard the firearm he had used. Fearing for her life and uncertain if he possessed another weapon, she complied with his demands. The terrifying ordeal finally came to an end, though the trauma for Elena Smith and her family was far from over.
The wheels of justice began to turn, and on June 1, 2000, a Grand Jury indicted Leo Mitchell on a charge of first-degree murder for the death of Henry Porter. Following a sanity commission and a finding of competency to stand trial, the legal process moved forward. In a subsequent indictment, Mitchell was charged with the second-degree murder of Henry Porter, the attempted second-degree murder of Howard Bardell, and the second-degree kidnapping of Elena Smith. After a trial by jury, Leo Mitchell was found guilty on all counts. For his brutal and senseless acts of violence, he was sentenced to life in prison at hard labor for the murder, fifty years for the attempted murder, and thirty years for the kidnapping, with the sentences to be served concurrently without the possibility of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.
