~ Kristen Elizabeth Gary Lopez ~

There are many unanswered questions surrounding the death of 21 year old Kristen Lopez who was described by her aunt as outgoing and well-liked. Lopez would ultimately become the 3rd victim in a series of seven mysterious, unsolved, female deaths in Jeff Davis Parish Louisiana.

Kristen was last seen alive by friends and family on March 6, 2007. By all published accounts, Kristen was involved in a high risk lifestyle of drugs and prostitution. Because it was not unusual to not hear from her for periods of time, she was not reported missing until ten days later

On March 18^th, a fisherman discovered Lopez’s completely nude body in the Petitjean Canal, a rural area near Cherokee Road right off LA 99, about 10 miles south of the town of Welsh. Investigators felt her body had been placed in that location but killed elsewhere.

According to autopsy results, the cause of death for Kristen Gary Lopez is undetermined. Toxicology results showed elevated levels of drugs and alchohol in Lopez’s system.

Frankie Richard

In May, 2007, Frankie Richard and his niece, Hannah Conner, were arrested in connection with Lopez’s death.

Hannah Conner

They were also questioned about the deaths prior to Lopez. Richard was reportedly seen with three of the victims in the last days of their lives. Charges were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence and conflicting witness statements.

Tracee Chaisson

Also arrested in May, 2007, was Tracee L. Chaisson. She was booked on Accessory After the Fact charges. Chaisson was apparently the person who reported Kristen missing. Investigators believed she knew where the body was when she made the report. Like Richard and Conner, charges were dropped against Tracee Chaisson due to lack of evidence and conflicting statements.

According to Jeff Davis Parish District Attorney, Michael Cassidy,  the Lopez case also lacked physical evidence and was supported by the statement of one witness. Cassidy said the investigation fell apart after that witness changed her story, not once, but four times.  “Her credibility — I’m not going to say diminished. It was gone,” he said.

One last item worth noting………Kristen Gary Lopez’s cousin, Brittney Gary, became the 7^th victim of the unsolved Jeff Davis Parish deaths.

Additional Photo Of Hannah Conner