In the quiet community of St. Bernard, Louisiana, a devastating act of violence shattered the peace of a family on Easter Sunday. Mary Major, a 75-year-old woman, was tragically killed on April 5, 2026, a day that is typically a celebration of new beginnings. Instead, it marked a sorrowful end.
The events of that evening unfolded within the family's home, where an argument escalated to a fatal confrontation.
The dispute, the specifics of which have not been publicly detailed, preceded a burst of gunfire. In the aftermath, both Mary Major and her 55-year-old daughter, Trenelle Major Collins, were found suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, their injuries proved to be mortal.
The suspect in this heart-wrenching case was quickly identified as Lee Collins III, the 22-year-old grandson of Mary Major and son of Trenelle Collins. Authorities reported that following the shooting, Collins also fired at his father, but fortunately, he missed his intended target. Fleeing the scene, he stole a white 2019 Ford stake-bed truck from a local business and began a journey that would ultimately lead him across state lines.
A manhunt was launched for Collins, who was considered armed and dangerous. His flight from justice ended in Mobile, Alabama, approximately 150 miles from the scene of the crime. He was apprehended at AltaPointe Health, a mental health facility, where staff grew suspicious after he provided a false name. Once his true identity was discovered, law enforcement was notified, and he was taken into custody without incident. Collins, who had no prior criminal history, now faces two counts of second-degree murder and is awaiting extradition back to Louisiana to answer for the tragic deaths of his mother and grandmother.
