In the winter of 2016, a 35-year-old mother of two, Derice Bailey, was tragically killed in her Metairie, Louisiana, home. On the evening of December 2nd, Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies responded to a call about a man with a gun at Bailey's Aero Street residence. Upon their arrival, they heard the chilling sound of gunshots emanating from within the house.
Shortly after, Ronald Mitchell Sr., Bailey's 39-year-old ex-husband, exited the home and surrendered to the authorities, handing over a. 38-caliber pistol. Inside, deputies discovered Derice Bailey on her kitchen floor, having been shot in the chest and head.
The events that unfolded that night were the culmination of a history of domestic violence and Mitchell's unfounded accusations of infidelity. In the days leading up to the murder, Mitchell had become increasingly obsessed with the baseless idea that Bailey was cheating on him. Friends of Bailey had even gathered at her home that evening to try and mediate the dispute. Despite Bailey professing her love for him, Mitchell brandished a revolver he had retrieved from a vacant house and opened fire in front of their two children. In her final moments, Bailey heroically attempted to shield her children from their father.
Following his surrender, Ronald Mitchell Sr. was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. His criminal history included a 2003 conviction for simple robbery, which legally prohibited him from owning a gun. The subsequent trial brought to light the tumultuous nature of their relationship, which had been marred by domestic abuse and Mitchell's drug use since 2007. Despite the ongoing issues, Bailey had repeatedly given Mitchell second chances.
In January 2018, a jury found Ronald Mitchell Sr. guilty of the second-degree murder of Derice Bailey. He was also convicted on the firearm charge. For his crimes, Mitchell was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. The emotional testimony during the trial included a letter from Bailey's daughter, who described her mother as a 'wonderful woman.' The tragic event left two children without their mother, a loss that was poignantly expressed by their 9-year-old son who, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, screamed at his father, 'You killed my mom. I hate you.'
