In September 2019, the life of 33-year-old Whitney Lane Martinez Durant of Alexandria, Louisiana, was tragically cut short in a home in Pride. On the morning of September 13th, deputies were called to a residence on Pride-Port Hudson Road, where they discovered a grim scene. Whitney had been fatally shot with a. 40 caliber weapon. Evidence at the scene suggested a hasty and desperate attempt to conceal the crime, with the strong scent of bleach hanging in the air and bottles of the cleaning
agent, a mop bucket, and visible wipe marks found near her body.
The investigation into Whitney's death quickly pointed to two men who had been at the house with her: Steven Francisco Ortiz-Morales, 27, of Pineville, and Zebbie Berthelot. The home belonged to Berthelot's brother, who had told investigators that the trio had been using drugs the night before. He noted that Ortiz-Morales had become increasingly paranoid and had asked the group to leave due to his erratic behavior. When the homeowner returned, he found Whitney deceased and the two men gone.
The search for the suspects did not last long. Zachary Police received a report of a suspicious person, which led them to Ortiz-Morales. At the time of his apprehension, he was found to be in possession of a. 40 caliber handgun and was wearing body armor. During questioning by East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office officials, Ortiz-Morales admitted to shooting and killing Whitney. Surveillance footage from a nearby home also placed him at the scene at the time of the murder.
Zebbie Berthelot was also taken into custody and, during questioning, admitted to being present when Ortiz-Morales shot Whitney. He also confessed to helping the alleged shooter find bleach to clean up the crime scene. Subsequently, Steven Francisco Ortiz-Morales was charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Zebbie Berthelot faced charges of accessory after the fact to second-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Both men were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
