On New Year's Day 2020, 26-year-old Joah Aaron Ross was found deceased in his home on Jackson Avenue in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Initially, authorities at the scene, including the coroner's office, concluded that his death was the result of a drug overdose, a belief supported by the presence of drugs in his residence. This preliminary determination, however, would soon be proven tragically incorrect, setting off a chain of events that would uncover a violent crime and place scrutiny on the
initial investigation.
The truth began to surface not in a sterile forensic lab, but at a local funeral home. While preparing Mr. Ross's body for final arrangements, mortuary staff discovered a gunshot wound that had been overlooked by investigators. This critical finding immediately transformed the case from a supposed accidental death into a homicide investigation. The revelation sent shockwaves through Joah Ross's family, who had been grappling with the sudden loss of a son, father, and brother. His sister, Jamie Edwards, voiced the family's anguish and frustration, expressing concern that the initial mishandling of the scene could have compromised the collection of crucial evidence, potentially allowing a killer to escape justice. The East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office later confirmed that Ross had died from a fatal gunshot wound and faced criticism for the oversight, with the chief of investigations acknowledging that a formal disciplinary process would be initiated for the employee who failed to properly examine the body.
For five months, the investigation into Joah Ross's murder continued, with his loved ones left to wonder if his killer would ever be brought to justice. Then, a breakthrough came in the form of an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers. This vital piece of information led Baton Rouge police to a suspect: 28-year-old Bryan Keith Price. In May 2020, Price was arrested and booked on charges of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. The investigation had revealed that Price was involved in the shooting that led to Ross's untimely death.
In December 2020, a grand jury indicted Bryan Price on the charges related to the murder of Joah Ross. The legal proceedings culminated in June 2023 when Price pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. His admission of guilt brought a measure of resolution to the case, and he faced a 20-year prison sentence for his role in the death of Joah Ross. The journey to this point was a painful one for Ross's family, marked by an initial investigative error that compounded their grief with uncertainty and a long wait for answers.
