Ivy Frank, a 32-year-old Black man described by loved ones as funny and outgoing, was a father of three. His life was cut short on June 27, 2019, in a violent attack in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that also claimed the lives of two other people.
The tragedy unfolded just before midnight at a home on Palmer Lane. According to authorities, Michael Lee Wade, age 48, forced his way inside and opened fire.
The shooting killed his 35-year-old ex-girlfriend, Christa Sudduth; her 72-year-old grandmother, Ruby White; and Ivy Frank, who was Sudduth’s current boyfriend. Sudduth’s two sons, ages 14 and 12, were in the house at the time of the attack.
In a harrowing act of survival, the 14-year-old boy called 911, and he and his younger brother managed to escape the home. They hid behind the house until deputies from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office arrived. The older boy was able to identify the gunman as his mother’s ex-boyfriend and provide a description of his vehicle. A sheriff later credited the boy’s quick thinking with saving both his and his brother’s lives.
Based on the crucial information from the teen, deputies located Wade in the Shenandoah neighborhood. After a short pursuit, Wade surrendered and was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon for what officials described as a "crime of rage."
Michael Lee Wade was later indicted on the first-degree murder charges, and prosecutors filed a motion seeking the death penalty. The case has since been marked by years of legal delays, including a change of judge in 2023 and further hearings in 2024 that stalled progress toward a trial. As of May 2024, Wade remains held on a bond of more than $1 billion as he awaits trial.
