On June 19, 2024, the life of 38-year-old Jeremy Swafford of Alexandria, Louisiana, was tragically cut short in a double homicide on Simmons Street. Swafford, a Black male, was discovered along with another victim, 55-year-old Ronald Landry of Boyce, Louisiana. The grim discovery prompted an immediate investigation by the Alexandria Police Department.
The day following the incident, authorities announced the arrest of a suspect, 46-year-old Rentis Austin, also from Alexandria.
Austin was taken into custody and subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder, in addition to probation and parole violations. The investigation into the double homicide is ongoing, with law enforcement continuing to seek information from the public.
In August 2024, the case against Rentis Austin moved forward as a Rapides Parish grand jury indicted him on both counts of second-degree murder. Following the indictment, Austin was held at the Rapides Parish Detention Center with his bond set at $2 million. Under Louisiana law, a conviction for second-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
