On a tragic day in Marrero, Louisiana, August 30, 1982, a violent outburst shattered the lives of a family. Myrtle Griffin, a 44-year-old female, was killed in her home alongside four other people. The devastating event stemmed from a troubled relationship involving one of her family members.
The perpetrator was Leslie Lowenfield, the former boyfriend of Myrtle's stepdaughter, Sheila Thomas.
Their relationship had been fraught with conflict and had ended a couple of months prior to the incident. In the time following their breakup, Lowenfield had engaged in a campaign of harassment and threats against Sheila and her family, leading them to file complaints against him.
On that fateful August day, Lowenfield forced his way into the family's home and shot all five occupants. The victims of the massacre were Myrtle Griffin, her husband Owen Griffin, her stepdaughter Sheila Thomas, Sheila's young daughter Chantelle Osborne, and the child's father, Carl Osborne. The victims were discovered in various rooms throughout the house.
Law enforcement quickly identified Leslie Lowenfield as the suspect, and he was arrested shortly after the killings. He was subsequently charged with five counts of first-degree murder. During the trial, multiple witnesses testified to Lowenfield's previous threats, building a strong case against him. He was found guilty of the murders and received a death sentence. On April 13, 1988, Leslie Lowenfield was executed by the state of Louisiana for his crimes.
