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Melissa Thomas

Case from Opelousas, LA dated Jan 31, 1996

Victim Details

Melissa Thomas

Female

Black / African American

Opelousas

LA

1996-01-31

24

Melissa

Thomas

07/08/2026

Case Description

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In January 1996, the body of 24-year-old Melissa Thomas, a female, was discovered on the grounds of the Little Zion Baptist Church in Opelousas, Louisiana. She had been strangled, and her body was left near the cemetery. For over two decades, her case remained a painful cold case for her family and the Opelousas Police Department. Investigators at the time had few leads and almost no physical evidence from the crime scene to identify a suspect.

The long-unsolved mystery finally found a re ...
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Links to Additional Sources (14)

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  • Who Was Melissa Thomas, One Of Samuel Little's Victims? - Oxygen
  • Arrest made in 1996 murder of Opelousas woman - KATC
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    Forum Posts (2)

    Wow, I can't stop thinking about how crucial Captain Crystal LeBlanc's role was in reopening Melissa... ...Read More
    07/11/2023
    I've been deeply moved by the persistence of Melissa Thomas' family in seeking justice over the year... ...Read More
    04/26/2023
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