In the small community of Saint Johns, Arizona, the life of 49-year-old Tessy Lou LaPorte, a female resident, was tragically cut short on October 30, 2019. Her death was not from natural causes, and the circumstances surrounding her passing quickly prompted a criminal investigation by the St. Johns Police Department. The quiet town was unsettled by the violent end to one of its own, leaving friends and family to grapple with the sudden loss.
Just a few days later, on November 2, 2019, a
significant development in the case brought a mixture of relief and further sorrow to the community. An arrest was made in connection with Tessy Lou's death. The suspect was identified as 54-year-old Dave Allen La Porte. He was taken into custody by law enforcement after he was released from the Maricopa County Medical Center.
Dave Allen La Porte was subsequently charged with the grave offense of First Degree Murder in the death of Tessy Lou La Porte. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Fourth Avenue Jail, where he was held without bond as he awaited his initial court appearance. Authorities made plans to extradite him to St. Johns to face the legal proceedings for the crime he was accused of committing.
