On a Wednesday morning in February 2017, the community of Laplace, Louisiana, was shaken by the discovery of a beloved local man's untimely death. Andrew Jasmine, a 29-year-old male, was found deceased in his home on East Frisco Drive on February 15, 2017. Responding to a call from a concerned individual who had been unable to reach him, St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff's deputies entered the residence to find a tragic scene.
Jasmine had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and his home had been ransacked, signaling a violent and premeditated crime.
The initial investigation into Jasmine's death quickly pointed towards a robbery gone horribly wrong. Detectives meticulously pieced together evidence, which led them to identify four suspects involved in the planning and execution of the fatal home invasion. Over the course of the next year, a series of arrests brought the alleged perpetrators into custody, stretching from the local area to as far as Houston and Beaumont, Texas. The suspects were identified as Ahkemon Bardell Jr., Branden Clegg, Malcolm Muse, and Domanique Barnes.
The subsequent legal proceedings painted a clearer picture of the events that led to Andrew Jasmine's death. Ahkemon Bardell Jr., Malcolm Muse, and Domanique Barnes were all indicted on charges of second-degree murder and armed robbery. Branden Clegg faced charges of conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and conspiracy to armed robbery. The investigation revealed that the four men had conspired to rob Jasmine, a plan that ultimately culminated in his tragic murder.
In March 2022, Ahkemon Bardell Jr. stood trial for his role in the crime. After a thorough presentation of evidence by the prosecution, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. Consequently, Bardell was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would be held accountable for his actions. While it was reported that the other three individuals involved in the case were also sentenced, the specific details of their convictions and the lengths of their sentences have not been made publicly available. The diligent work of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office brought a primary perpetrator to justice, closing a painful chapter for the family and friends of Andrew Jasmine, though the full scope of the legal resolution for all involved remains partially undisclosed.
