In the late summer of 2024, the community of Port Sulphur, Louisiana, was shaken by the violent death of one of its own. On the evening of August 26th, Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of a shooting on Caroline Drive. Upon their arrival, they discovered the body of 40-year-old Billy Saunier, who had sustained injuries consistent with gunshots.
Despite the prompt arrival of Plaquemines Parish Emergency Medical Services, Saunier was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the death of the commercial fisherman, known to some as 'Billo' or 'Wild bill,' quickly honed in on a suspect. With the assistance of witnesses and information gathered from the crime scene, detectives were able to identify Victor Battle, then 20 years old, as the individual responsible. An arrest warrant was secured from the 25th Judicial Court, and Battle was taken into custody in connection with the homicide. He was subsequently booked into the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center on a charge of second-degree murder.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of closure to the grieving family and community. In a courtroom at the Plaquemines Parish Courthouse on November 18, 2025, Victor Battle pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the death of Billy Ray Saunier. Judge Kevin Conner accepted the plea and sentenced Battle to 30 years in prison. The resolution was described by the Assistant District Attorney as 'a measure of justice for a senseless act of violence.' During the sentencing, Saunier's sister delivered a poignant victim impact statement, remembering her brother as a father, son, and friend. The case was notable for the fact that no murder weapon was ever recovered, and there were no eyewitnesses to the crime itself. Battle, who was 22 at the time of his sentencing, has been in custody since his initial arrest and may be eligible for parole after serving 85% of his sentence.
