In the early morning hours of April 5, 2020, a sequence of events unfolded in Laplace, Louisiana, that culminated in the tragic death of 25-year-old JaRiel Sam. The harrowing incident began to come to light around 3:30 a.m. when St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a single-car crash on Belle Terre Boulevard. Upon arrival, they found a vehicle that had struck a guardrail, but the driver was nowhere in sight.
A search of the immediate area led to the discovery of Sam's body in a nearby vacant lot; she had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation into what was initially perceived as a hit-and-run quickly evolved into a homicide investigation. Authorities were able to piece together the events leading to Sam's death by reviewing surveillance footage from the area. The video evidence revealed a grim narrative. Earlier that morning, a man identified as 37-year-old Corrie Wallace was seen forcing Sam into the trunk of her own car at her apartment complex. Tragically, Sam's 4-year-old son was left unharmed but alone inside the apartment during the abduction.
As Wallace drove away from the scene, another vehicle was observed following closely behind. The driver of the second car was later identified as 36-year-old Kevin Hollinger. Investigators believe that at some point during the drive, Sam managed to open the trunk and escape from the moving vehicle. In a desperate attempt to flee, she ran into the vacant lot. Wallace immediately stopped the car and pursued her. He caught up with her and shot her before fleeing the scene on foot.
The investigation led to the swift identification and arrest of both suspects. Corrie Wallace was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. Kevin Hollinger was also arrested and charged with principal to first-degree murder, as authorities believe he was aware of Wallace's intentions and assisted him. Following his arrest, Wallace was held without bond. Hollinger's bond was initially set at $100,000.
