Who killed Luther Meshell? In March of 1991, a quiet Shreveport, Louisiana, community was disturbed by a brutal act of violence that claimed the life of 50-year-old Luther Meshell, a white male who was known to use a wheelchair and crutches for mobility. The grim discovery was made on the evening of March 27, when his own 17-year-old son found him deceased on the floor of his bedroom in his apartment on Michel Street.
It was a scene of shocking violence; Meshell had been stabbed multiple times in his back and chest, and his throat had been cut. Investigators at the scene noted that the phone line had been severed, a chilling detail suggesting the perpetrator's intent to prevent any calls for help.
The investigation that followed uncovered that the motive was likely robbery, though the items stolen seemed of modest value. A television, a stereo, thirty dollars, and his 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88 were taken from the home. The crime appeared even more senseless given the victim's physical vulnerability. The day after the discovery of the murder, a small piece of the puzzle fell into place when police located Meshell's stolen Oldsmobile abandoned in the parking lot of an apartment complex, but this lead did not bring them any closer to identifying a culprit.
Despite the passage of over three decades, the murder of Luther Meshell remains a cold case, a source of enduring pain and unanswered questions for his children and family. No suspects have ever been publicly named in connection with the homicide, and no arrests have been made. The case stands as a lingering mystery, with authorities and loved ones still hoping that someone will come forward with the information needed to finally bring a resolution and deliver justice for the violent end to a man's life in his own home.
