Luther Meshell (9 of Hearts, Louisiana)

Summary

The Deck Podcast: Luther Meshell (9 of Hearts, Louisiana) – Detailed Summary

Episode Release Date: June 25, 2025
Host: audiochuck

---

Introduction: Unsolved Mystery of Luther Meshell

In this gripping episode of The Deck, host audiochuck delves into the haunting case of Luther Meshell, designated as the Nine of Hearts from Louisiana. The episode meticulously unpacks the mysterious circumstances surrounding Luther's death in 1991, exploring the intricate details that have left his family seeking justice for over three decades.

---

The Night of Luther’s Death

[07:30]
On a tranquil spring evening in 1991, Luther Meshell's life was abruptly ended under perplexing circumstances. Luther's teenage son, Alan, discovered him dead on the bedroom floor beside his overturned wheelchair and a knife. The scene was baffling: the front door was locked from the inside, and there were no indications of forced entry.

Key Quote:
Ashley Flowers: "Police believe his killer could have been someone he knew and trusted."
(Timestamp: 07:30)

---

Discovery and Initial Investigation

[04:13] - [06:45]
Tammy Michel, Luther's daughter, recounts the terrifying moment she learned of her father's condition. Upon arriving at his home, Tammy and Alan found Luther in distress, initially mistaking the dark substance on him for hair dye. However, the grim reality set in when they realized it was blood, indicating multiple stab wounds. The broken phone line revealed the perpetrator's attempt to sever communication, leaving the family without immediate help.

Notable Quote:
Tammy Michel: "And so they had cut the phone line, and they had cut the phone line to where he couldn't even call."
(Timestamp: 06:26)

---

Crime Scene Insights

[08:01] - [10:12]
Corporal Christopher Bordelon of the Shreveport Police Department provides critical insights into the crime scene. The living room was eerily adorned with remnants from Luther's recent 50th birthday party, suggesting the killer did not intend to steal extensively, pointing away from robbery as the primary motive. The presence of defensive injuries on Luther hinted at a violent confrontation with someone familiar.

Key Quote:
Corporal Christopher Bordelon: "The injuries sustained by Mr. Michel are consistent to someone standing over him and stabbing in a downward angle."
(Timestamp: 09:26)

---

Potential Suspects and Motives

[10:29] - [15:10]
Investigators swiftly turned their attention to Luther's personal relationships. Luther was separated from his second wife, Pearly Alvarez, and had a tumultuous relationship marked by alcohol-fueled conflicts. A threatening call from Luther to Tammy, mentioning Pearly wielding a knife, raised suspicions. Pearly's subsequent statements and lack of a matching fingerprint at the crime scene further complicated the investigation.

Notable Quote:
Tammy Michel: "Whoever it was either knew my dad really well, or he was ambushed."
(Timestamp: 15:10)

---

Evidence and Leads

[21:01] - [23:15]
Luther's car, a blue-green 1970s Oldsmobile Delta 88, was found abandoned miles away with signs of tampering, including a missing battery and a flat tire. Despite extensive searches, the keys were never recovered, suggesting the assailant had prior access or retrieved them from Luther's residence. The lack of forced entry and minimal theft pointed towards a personal vendetta rather than opportunistic crime.

Key Quote:
Corporal Christopher Bordelon: "The keys were not present with the vehicle, which is somewhat significant because the person had to get the keys from the residents in order to take this vehicle."
(Timestamp: 21:01)

---

Parallel Cases and Serial Killer Theories

[27:25] - [29:56]
A retired detective involved in Luther's case highlighted similarities with other unsolved murders in Shreveport, notably the case of Louis Woodrow Pleasance (Woody). Both victims were brutally stabbed in their apartments, and their cars were subsequently stolen and abandoned. These parallels fueled suspicions of a serial killer operating in the region during that period, possibly targeting individuals within the LGBTQ community.

Notable Quote:
Retired Detective: "Early case investigators had been exploring the theory that Luther may have been killed by a serial killer."
(Timestamp: 27:25)

---

Family's Pursuit for Justice

[31:33] - [35:26]
Tammy Michel's relentless pursuit for answers underscores the emotional toll of unresolved justice. Over three decades, she has tirelessly advocated for her father's case, navigating media interviews, public campaigns, and personal anguish. Her commitment remains unwavering, driven by the desire to see the perpetrator confronted and her father's memory honored.

Key Quote:
Tammy Michel: "I'll die talking about it. I will die talking about it."
(Timestamp: 31:33)

---

Current Investigative Efforts and Hope for Resolution

[33:19] - [35:39]
Despite the passage of time, there remains a glimmer of hope for Luther's family. The Shreveport Police Department, acknowledging advancements in forensic technology, has expressed willingness to re-examine existing evidence. Although challenges persist due to potential degradation of critical evidence, renewed efforts aim to bring closure to Luther's loved ones.

Notable Quote:
Corporal Christopher Bordelon: "We're gonna do everything we can to try to get you any kind of closure possible."
(Timestamp: 34:21)

---

Conclusion: A Call for Public Assistance

The episode concludes with an earnest plea for public assistance. Luther Meshell's case remains unsolved, but the collective memory of the community and advancements in investigative techniques offer a path forward. Listeners are encouraged to come forward with any information that might shed light on Luther's mysterious death, providing a chance to finally deliver justice to those who have long awaited it.

Call to Action:
"Anyone with information on who is responsible for the death of Luther Michelle is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department. Call 318-673-7300 and ask for someone in Investigations."

---

Final Thoughts

The Deck masterfully intertwines investigative journalism with empathetic storytelling, highlighting the enduring pain of unsolved crimes and the relentless quest for truth. Luther Meshell's case serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities involved in criminal investigations and the profound impact unresolved cases have on families and communities.

---

For More Information:

Visit thedeckpodcast.com to learn more about Luther Meshell's case and other advocacy work undertaken by The Deck.

Transcript

[Ashley Flowers]

Hi everyone. Ashley Flowers here. If you love diving into mysteries and exploring the unexplained, but sometimes wonder if the answers lie just beyond the edge of what we know, your next listen should be so Supernatural Every week I handpick the most bizarre, mind bending mysteries for my friends Rasha and Yvette to look into. From eerie disappearances to encounters that defy exploitation, Rasha and Yvette dive deep into every possibility paranormal, scientific and everything in between. So if you're ready to explore the unknown, then join us on so supernatural. Over 100 episodes are available now and new stories are explored every Friday. Listen to so Supernatural now. Wherever you listen to podcasts, your payments are showing, but with Apple Cash your payments are private by default. No public feeds, awkward reactions or unnecessary payment drama. Apple Cash lets you send cash and messages right in the conversations you're already having or with tap to Cash pay someone next to you without looking up a username or scanning a QR code. Just hold your iPhone near someone else's to send. Switch to Apple Cash and start sending privately. Apple Cash services are provided by Green bank member FDIC what if you could turn your curiosity for true crime into a degree at Southern New Hampshire University? You can. Southern New Hampshire University offers over 200 degrees you can earn completely online, including subjects like forensic psychology, criminology and crime analysis. And with low online tuition, Southern New Hampshire University makes earning your degree affordable, free, flexible and achievable. Find your degree at Snhu. Edu Dec. That's Snhu. Edu Dec. Making decisions shouldn't feel mysterious. With Estate Farm Personal Price Plan, you can personalize your plan to help create an affordable price for you so you can continue cracking all of life's big cases. Talk to a State Farm agent to uncover how you can choose to bundle and save like a good neighbor. State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state. Our card this week is Luther Michel, the nine of Hearts from Louisiana. On a mild spring night in 1991, Luther's teenage son found him lying dead on his bedroom floor next to his overturned wheelchair and a knife. With a locked door and no signs of forced entry. Police believe his killer could have been someone he knew and trusted. But when they zoom out, investigators notice a series of other crimes with eerie similarities, and they begin to consider whether a serial killer could be to blame. I'm Ashley Flowers and this is the deck. On Wednesday, March 27, 1991, 22 year old Tammy Michelle was on her way to work the evening shift at a local bar. But first she had to drop off her brother Allen at his dad's house in Shreveport, Louisiana. When Tammy pulled up to their father's house, she noticed that her dad's car was gone and the living room light was on. A red bulb that cast an ominous glow into the night. Tammy watched as she always did, as Alan got out of the car, walked to the house and unlocked the front door.

[Tammy Michel]

And so my brother goes up to the house and I'm digging in my purse for work keys. And next thing I know, my brother's right back at the passenger window. And he says, tammy, something's wrong with Daddy. He's laying on, on the ground. And I thought, on the ground, he's outside. And he goes, no, he's in his bedroom.

[Ashley Flowers]

Tammy was immediately concerned. The last time they saw their dad was a few days before, so there was no telling how long he'd been lying there. Their dad, Luther Michel, had limited mobility. He'd been seriously injured during his work as an arborist many years ago when a tree fell on him. And ever since then, he needed to use a wheelchair or crutches. So when she heard that her father was lying on the ground, Tammy threw the emergency brake on and ran inside with her brother.

[Tammy Michel]

And I go in, and as soon as I go through the front door, I go to that immediate right that takes you right into his bedroom. And I see him laying there on the floor and he has this black stuff all over him.

[Ashley Flowers]

At first, Tammy thought that black stuff was hair dye and that maybe he had had a heart attack while coloring his hair, which made sense to her because her father was wearing only boxer shorts and a pair of socks. But as Tammy looked around, she realized there was more going on.

[Tammy Michel]

I realized that his TV was gone in his bedroom. Oh, hold up. His car was gone. When we pulled in, the red light in the living room was on. Now he's on the floor, his TV's gone. Oh, my God.

[Ashley Flowers]

That was when Tammy realized the dark colored liquid crusted on her father's body was blood. Luther had been stabbed. He'd been stabbed a lot and he wasn't breathing. Tammy frantically looked for the house phone so she could call for help. And it's worth noting here that the phone Luther had was a corded landline. He lived in a small house, and the cord on the phone was long enough that he could pretty much use the phone in any part of the house. But it was connected to one spot on the wall in the kitchen. Once Tammy found the phone cord, she started to pull with the hope that it would lead her to the receiver.

[Tammy Michel]

And all of a sudden, I hear this, like, crackling sound. And I realized that the phone line was underneath him, and it was dried in a big puddle of blood. And so they had cut the phone line, and they had cut the phone line to where he couldn't even call.

[Ashley Flowers]

For help with no phone that they could use. Tammy and Alan went to the neighbor's house to call 91 1. And in minutes, the street flashed with blue and red lights as police, firefighters, and paramedics arrived at the scene. Inside Luther's home, investigators found the front living room still decorated with balloons and streamers from Luther's 50th birthday party a few weeks before.

[Tammy Michel]

We did a little, little party for him. It wasn't no big to do, but I went to taking the balloons and the decorations off the wall, and he told me, no, Tammy, leave those up, because I may not be here for my birthday next year.

[Ashley Flowers]

And he wasn't past the living room. The rest of the one bedroom, one bathroom house told a horrific story of Luther's last moments. The kitchen was in chaos. One chair was knocked over, and there was grease in large areas of what appeared to be blood smeared across the laminate floor. The back door was slightly open, but there was a blanket shoved against it, so there was no way to use that exit. And that same blanket appeared to have been used to wipe the kitchen floor. That's why everything was smeared.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

What appears to have happened is that Mr. Michel was in the kitchen with someone else, most likely in his wheelchair.

[Ashley Flowers]

That's Corporal Christopher Bordelon, a public information officer with the Shreveport Police Department, who reviewed Luther's file for our interview. Our reporters spoke with a PIO because at the time of this recording, there isn't a detective assigned to the case.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

He did have a contusion to the head, and that is important. It's significant because one of the initial detectives noted a skillet that had been filled with grease, and it appeared that the grease had been flung across the kitchen, possibly indicating that. That that skillet had been used to strike Mr. Michel.

[Ashley Flowers]

That blow from the skillet may have been enough to knock Luther onto the ground, or perhaps he was hit with the pan and then shoved out of his wheelchair. Either way, that would have given an attacker enough opportunity to arm themselves with a knife. And Luther had either crawled or was drug a short distance to his final resting spot. In the bedroom where police found him lying near his collapsed wheelchair, several feet away from his body, police also found a butcher knife. Now, the knife didn't have any visible blood on it, so it was unclear in that moment if Luther grabbed it to try and defend himself or if that was the weapon used to stab him and then it was wiped clean.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

The injuries sustained by Mr. Michel are consistent to someone standing over him and stabbing in a downward angle. He also had injuries to his forearms, which would be consistent with defensive injuries trying to block someone trying to stab him.

[Ashley Flowers]

Detectives collected lots of evidence throughout the house, including beer cans, cigarettes, scissors, knives, towels and sheets. They also collected a latent print from a bloody palm stain found next to the window in Luther's bedroom. While searching the home, one of the first things police noted in their reports was that there was no sign of forced entry. Remember, the front door had been locked when Allen came home.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

I did note that they never located the victim's keys. And so it led me to believe that the suspect in this case retrieved the keys or knew where the keys were and was able to re secure the door in an attempt to cover things up.

[Ashley Flowers]

And while a couple of things were taken from the house, like the bedroom, TV and a few pieces of DJ equipment, Luther's home wasn't ransacked. Detectives interpreted that to mean that robbery probably wasn't the main motive. More like an afterthought. Corporal Bordelon says that the fact that Luther was found in his underwear, combined with the fact that there was no forced entry, could indicate Luther's attacker was someone that he knew and trusted. And Luther's family agreed. When police talked to Allen, he told them that his father always kept the doors locked and would never let strangers inside. He also explained that Luther didn't have many friends. His visitor list was short. For her part, Tammy told our team that her dad always dressed before answering the door. I mean, for everyone. He wouldn't even answer the door for Tammy if he was just in his boxers. For that reason alone, Tammy always believed that whoever it was either knew her dad really well, or he was ambushed. Allen also told police that his dad would have never loaned out his car. A late 1970s Oldsmobile, a Delta 88 that was blue green in color. It seemed really likely that whoever took Luther's keys, locked his door and drove off in that car had to be the killer. And as luck would have it, someone actually saw that car drive off two nights before. Feeling sexy is supposed to be fun that's why adore me makes fun, flirty and playful lingerie bras and more that are all about what gets you excited. Adormi offers extended sizing across a wide variety of thoughtfully designed styles. They drop a new seasonal collection each month, so there's always new styles to check out. Whether you're looking for everyday bra and panty sets, lingerie corsets, supportive swimwear, PJs or activewear, they have it all. I mean, it is almost pool season and I am always on the hunt for a great swimsuit brand. And I really like adore me because as a big booby girl, it is hard to get the right support in a suit. And theirs are top notch, literally five stars. And with sets starting as low as $25, you can feel sexy. Even if you're on a budget. New customers can get bra and panty sets for as low as $25. So take this as a sign to order yourself a new bra. Head to adoreme.com now to shop more than just lingerie in over 67 sizes. Hi Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us. Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in. You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we' give you a new iPhone 16 Pro plus we'll help you pay off your old Phone up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it.

[Unknown]

There's always a trade in.

[Ashley Flowers]

Not right now. @ T Mobile. I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma. That's okay. I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer.

[Unknown]

It's lavender.

[Ashley Flowers]

I'm good. Seriously.

[Unknown]

Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.

[Ashley Flowers]

Really, I'm fine. Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom.

[Unknown]

Wait, wait one sec.

[Ashley Flowers]

I've got cupcakes in the car. It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch that T Mobile. Get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple intelligence on us. No trade in needed. We'll even pay off your phone up.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

To 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits. New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualify imported for well qualified plus tax and $10 connection charge payout via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits and balance due if you pay off earlier. Cancel See t mobile.com.

[Ashley Flowers]

Police records don't reflect how many neighbors they spoke with that Wednesday evening. But of all the doors that they knocked on, only one neighbor had anything to Say that neighbor said it was on Monday. So two nights before Luther was found, when she saw Luther's car leaving the neighborhood through her bathroom window, she remembered this happening at around 11 or 11:30pm now, it was dark, so she couldn't tell who was in the vehicle. But despite this, she was absolutely certain that the car she saw was Luther's. Police asked her if she had heard any kind of disturbance that night, but she hadn't. The only other things that she had noticed were that Luther's lights had stayed on and his laundry had been hanging outside for the last several days. That was out of character for Luther, especially the lights.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

Mr. Michel was known for always turning the lights off. He lived a very frugal lifestyle. Because of being on a fixed income with Social Security Security, that light being left on was not common.

[Ashley Flowers]

When police spoke with Tammy and Alan, they learned that Monday when the neighbors saw his car drive off. That was also the last time the kids saw their father alive. Now, usually, Alan saw his dad all the time. He'd actually moved into the single bedroom home with Luther a few months before. But Alan also spent a lot of time with Tammy, especially when she was off work. Tammy says that she picked Allan up from their dad's house on Monday, and Allan stayed with her the next two nights, partly because Luther was planning on spending Tuesday night at his wife's house. And, yeah, you heard that right. Luther was married, but he and his wife had totally separate households. Pearlie Alvarez, who was named Pearly Michelle at the time, was Luther's second wife, and she had her own place a few miles away from Luther's. Tammy told police that Luther and Pearly did live together after they got married, but only for about six months. They just couldn't get along when they spent too much time together, especially when both had been drinking. So Luther and Pearly decided it was best to live in separate homes and regularly visit each other, sometimes staying the night at each other's places. That didn't totally solve the problem, though. Tammy told police about a troubling call she got from her father sometime in the months before.

[Tammy Michel]

He called me, Tammy, she won't leave. I just said, daddy, you know, y' all do this all the time. Every time y' all drink together, this happens. He said, no, Tammy, it's different this time. She's got a knife and she took my crutches. She won't leave, and she's waving a knife in my face.

[Ashley Flowers]

Tammy said she didn't know if her dad was exaggerating, but she Took it seriously enough to drive over to see him. When she got there, Pearly was already gone. And her dad didn't have any major injuries, but he did have a nick on the side of his nose. Neither Tammy nor Luther reported this incident to police, but she was obviously telling them now. So guess who police we're going to look at next. An officer was sent out to see if Luther's car was at Pearly's house. It wasn't, so police put out a BOLO on it. While they checked Pearly's criminal history, they found she'd previously been arrested for misdemeanor theft, but nothing violent popped up on her record. Now this is all happening quickly, like, I mean, they're finding all of this out on Wednesday night, the same day that Luther's body had been discovered. So that same evening, detectives go to Pearlie's home. She lets them in and the detectives have to break the news to her that Luther is dead. According to the investigative notes, Purley and her 10 year old daughter from a previous relationship were shaken and upset. They agreed to go with police down to the station for questioning. And there police were pretty upfront with Pearlie and told her that she was under investigation for homicide. But she said that she had nothing to do with his murder. Like Tammy and Allen, she too said that the last time she saw Luther was on Monday in the morning. Pearly had stopped by his home while with a friend and the couple talked about Easter plans before she left. And yes, he was supposed to come stay at her place Tuesday night, but he never showed. She had even called his home phone to see why he didn't come, but no one answered. Pearly also explained that she didn't have a home phone, so every time she called, she had to walk to a store to use the phone or she would have someone drive her. Cause by the way, she didn't have a car either. So it was with no small effort that she also tried calling him again the next day on Wednesday. But again, no one answered. Police also spoke to Pearly's 10 year old daughter that night, who corroborated her mother's story. So did Pearly's friend who had stopped by Luther's house with her. In a follow up interview several days later, police talked to Pearly again. And that second conversation raised a few interesting questions. Questions to investigators. Hurley told police that no one was drinking when she visited Luther's home Monday morning, nor was she aware of any beer in the house. So at some point between Monday morning and when Luther died. A number of beer cans had accumulated in Luther's home. Now, those had been collected from the scene, but police records don't say if they were submitted for testing and if so, what the results of those tests were. Plus, and I think important to note, Luther's autopsy report shows that he had no alcohol in his system. So we know he hadn't been drinking right before he died. Now, police were interested in the all important question. They wanted to know if Pearly's hands matched the bloody print that had been left at the scene. By this point, they already knew it wasn't Luther's, but when they compared her print, they were easily able to determine it wasn't hers. Now, we know that print was compared to others on file as well, including Tammy and Alan, but they weren't a match either. Bordelon told our reporters that back in the early 90s, there was not a significant database of palm prints and that the way prints would have been compared then is different from how it would happen today. Bordelon checked the evidence log to see if the latent print was still there, but as of this recording, no one's been able to find it. There's also no record of anyone else they may or may not have compared the print to when they still had it. Police ended up finding Luther's car two hours after sunrise, the morning after he was found. It was parked just a few miles away from his home in the back of an apartment complex on Mabel Street. When they found it. The Oldsmobile was unlocked and its windows were partially rolled down. The right rear tire was flat and the hood was slightly open with the car's battery missing. There was also evidence that someone attempted to open the trunk by force.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

The keys were not present with the vehicle, which is somewhat significant because the person had to get the keys from the residents in order to take this vehicle. And the keys to this point in time have never been found.

[Ashley Flowers]

With a threat of thunderstorms looming that day, police had the vehicle towed to the police department's garage so it could be processed and searched.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

The vehicle, when officers went through it, they did locate what they believed to be some remnants of blood or blood spatter. And a part of the console from under the dash was actually taken from the vehicle and submitted for testing.

[Ashley Flowers]

It's unclear what kind of testing was done, but Corporal Bordelon said that investigators back then would most likely try to determine whether the blood belonged to Luther. If it didn't belong to him, then that would indicate that the suspect could have been injured. And bleeding as well. Unfortunately, police records don't have any information about the test results from the car console, and the car itself is no longer in evidence. Neither is the portion of the car console. Shreveport police don't have any record of how or when it was released, and police records also don't have information about any additional evidence testing, if it was done. And on what we know, investigators did talk to multiple people who lived in the apartment complex where the car was found, specifically people who lived in the building right where the car was parked. But no one had any helpful intel, and police records don't know anything about footage from security cameras. Corporal Bordelon said investigators determined that Pearly did not have any ties to that apartment complex. And I think it's important to note that our reporters looked to see if anyone mentioned in the case file had lived at an address near where the car was found, but they were unable to find any.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

It's not uncommon for a suspect to ditch a vehicle in a heavily traveled area like a apartment complex, because vehicles can hide in plain sight where there's a lot of vehicles, a lot of traffic. So that's not an uncommon thing. We still, to this day locate many stolen vehicles in apartment complex parking lots.

[Ashley Flowers]

This is about where the case file starts to trail off. Tammy filled in for us what was happening on the home front, though she said it was a hard time for her and her brother, obviously, and the fallout from her father's death left a lot of wounds for the entire family. But Tammy said that when they held funeral services for her father, Pearly, his wife of four years, didn't attend. And when Tammy tried to go talk to her, she wouldn't even come out of the house and speak with her. Tammy only heard from Pearly two more times. Once when she asked about getting Luther's death certificate so she could collect Social Security, and a second time to ask about Luther's old refrigerator, which neither of those sit well with Tammy. And in that time, they didn't hear from police either. Aside from a 1992 supplementary report that sums up everything we've mentioned, there is no indication that any additional evidence testing resulted in new suspects. Corporal Bordelon was straightforward about the limits of Shreveport's record retention at the time.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

Most of our detectives at that point in time, like their case files were their case files, they may be at the attic of their house. They may be thrown away. So this could be in somebody's attic. You know, there was just. Record retention was different back then.

[Ashley Flowers]

That means that there is a possibility that a retired detective somewhere out there has documents that could give us a deeper insight into the investigation. So our reporter Emily Enfinger tracked down one of the initial lead detectives who is now retired to, you know, see if they had anything interesting in their attic. He did not. And while he didn't want to be interviewed on this podcast, he was willing to talk with us on background and he actually shared another theory about Luther's death. Apparently, early case investigators had been exploring the theory that Luther may have been killed by a serial killer.

[Unknown]

Has your kid asked for help with homework? Or maybe your child's ahead of the curve and getting bored in class? Whether your kid is struggling or soaring, IXL can make a real difference. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that helps kids really understand what they're learning. It covers math, language arts, science and social studies from pre K all the way through 12th grade. It's designed to be engaging, personalized and yes, actually fun with encouraging feedback that keeps kids motivated. Don't miss out. IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the U.S. one in four students in the U.S. are learning with IXL. I've recently introduced IXL to my sister, who's a mom of four. She used to spend so much time trying to come up with her own little lesson plans to help her kids home in on the skills they're learning at school, but now she has IXL to do all the hard work for her. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and the Deck listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com dec visit ixl.com deck to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. When everything else keeps getting pricier, like paying the bills or buying groceries, GoodRx helps keep your prescription costs low, from diabetes to allergy relief to heart health. Save up to 80% on prescriptions for you and your family and pets too. Check GoodRx before every trip to the pharmacy for big savings on both brand and generic medications. GoodRx is free and easy to use. Just search for your prescription on the website or the app, compare prices and get a free coupon to show your pharmacist. Use GoodRx to save at over 70,000 local pharmacies nationwide, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Publix, Kroger and many more. Remember, GoodRx is not insurance, but works whether you have insurance or not and could beat your insurance copay price Beat high prices at the pharmacy and save up to 80% with GoodRx. Go to goodrx.com december that's goodrx.com dec.

[Ashley Flowers]

One of the original detectives on Luther's case disclosed that there are at least two other unsolved cases in Shreveport that he believes might have been committed by the same person who killed Luther. When our reporter Emily spoke to this retired detective, he couldn't remember the details about some of the other cases, but he did remember one of the victims names, 35 year old Louis Woodrow Pleasance, who went by the nickname Woody. And Woody's case does have some similarity to Luther's. Both were found dead in their apartments, both were brutally stabbed, and in both cases, their cars were missing but later found within a matter of days. Woody's murder, however, came a few years before Luther's death and notably, according to reports in the Shreveport Times, that happened during a rash of other homicides that all had a similar white men who were fatally stabbed. But while a few of those cases ended up with the conviction of suspects that could not be tied to Woody's murder, it's not a far jump to see how Luther's death would have made detectives think about his case and others like his that remained unsolved. And according to the Shreveport Times, one element that at least some of those early cases shared, such as in Woody's murder, was the possibility of an LGBTQ connection. Either the killer and or the victims were gay. And that said, there was a supplementary report in Luther's case dated in March of 1992 that includes some notes on interviews that kind of back up this line of investigation, notably with questions about Luther's sexual orientation. But investigators never made a concrete connection between Luther's murder and the other cases, and his case in particular lost steam. I mean, that much is obvious because more than 30 years have gone by and no one has been arrested or so much as charged for his murder. In that 1992 report that I had mentioned, that is the last report available in the case file, Corporal Bordelon said at the time there were really limited options for what police could do.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

They hit a point where it just appeared that they needed something else to push this case over the edge. You know, this is one that had this happen. Today, with the advances that we have now in technology, in communication and in forensics, there's a lot more that could have been done on this case. But in 1991, those things didn't exist.

[Ashley Flowers]

Yet, but detectives didn't let forensics limit them. It Appears they were willing to make note of any tips that came in, no matter how unusual the source. Around the time of Luther's funeral, his ex wife went to see an elderly psychic for a card reading during which he told her that Luther had actually been killed by two people. According to the case file, the psychic claims Luther had a visitor the night that he was attacked. And although Luther was surprised by the visit, he let them in to his home. The psychics said it was a black woman and a white man. And they also said that Luther got into an argument with the woman and she started the attack on him, but that the man was who caused the fatal wound. Investigators asked Luther's family if the psychic's account brought anyone to mind, and it actually did. To the family, the woman that the psychic described sounded like one of Pearly's sisters. And her boyfriend Luther supposedly didn't like that sister because he felt like she was taking advantage of Pearly. But if they continued to look into Pearly's sister, that is not documented in the files that the PD has retained. But where the case slowed down, Tammy's efforts to bring justice to her father have not. Over the last 30 plus years, she has done everything she can to keep her dad's case in the minds of the public. I mean, she's done countless interviews with media, put up posters, even billboards. Since day one, she has made it her mission to find answers about her father's murder.

[Tammy Michel]

You know, 34 years, I've had every emotion. You know, I've had depression, I've had anxiety. You know, my son's 33. He grew up watching me cry. He grew up watching mama go back and forth to news stations and, you know, police stations and homicide departments and, you know, I would always be a basket case, before it, during it, I'd do pretty good, you know, with the exception of a few tears. But then next couple days later, it'll be. It's an emotional thing and. But I'll, I'll die talking about it. I will die talking about it.

[Ashley Flowers]

Even if the case never leads to a formal arrest, Tammy said she just wants to see the face of whoever killed her father to have an answer.

[Tammy Michel]

One of the worst things was watching my grandma, you know, knowing that somebody had killed her son. And she just sat there in her little wood frame house until she passed away at 96, waiting to hear on who.

[Ashley Flowers]

And maybe advancements in technology will help bring answers closer to Tammy and the rest of Luther's surviving family. When our reporter Emily spoke to Corporal Bordelon she asked specifically what kind of testing has been done on the evidence since those initial days of the investigation, and the answer was none. But some of the evidence is still with police. Corporal Bordelon did share that due to our interest in the case, some of that evidence will be submitted for new testing, although, as he explained to our reporter Emily, that's no guarantee that anything will come back.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

Now, we will be met with challenges depending on how this evidence was stored. Was it stored in a manner that allows us to do these testings? Will DNA still be present after all of these years? So, unfortunately, after reviewing this case, I'm left with probably more questions than answers.

[Tammy Michel]

What are some of your questions?

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

There's specifically items that we do have that I'm not entirely sure why, what the significance was of some of these items, specifically, like a phone book, what the detective sees that for, and why there was a binder. And upon seeing these items, maybe I'm able to make that determination. But right now, there's many things I would have liked to have had more information on, including phone records. But maybe with some DNA evidence and some stuff from the crime lab, we're able to come up with something.

[Ashley Flowers]

We wanted to make sure that Tammy was made aware about that development, and we wanted to ensure that she heard it from the police department. So we called her then while we had Corporal Bordelon in the room with us.

[Unknown]

Hey, Ms. Tammy. It's Emily.

[Ashley Flowers]

This was the first time Tammy had spoken to law enforcement about her father's case in at least a decade.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

You're on speakerphone. Hi, I'm Corporal Chris Bordelawn. I work with the police department here in Shreveport.

[Tammy Michel]

Yes, sir.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

I just got done. I interviewed with these journalists, and they. They brought some really good information. And so I have reached out to our crime scene or in our. Our crime scene investigations, as well as our property management unit, and we. We're gonna do everything we can. We may still have some items in property, and I'm gonna try to have them sent off for some further DNA testing. I don't want to make any promises to you.

[Tammy Michel]

I understand.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

Yeah. But we're gonna do everything we can to try to get you any kind of closure possible.

[Tammy Michel]

Wow. Wow. Well, this is the most hopeful I've been in a really long time.

[Ashley Flowers]

Corporal Bordelon is hopeful, too, because there's always a chance that new information could move this case forward.

[Corporal Christopher Bordelon]

And at that point in time, you know, if a family member or one of their friends has knowledge that this was done, it would be really good for them to reach out to the police department at this point in time just so that we could give some type of closure to Mr. Michel's family. It's important to note, you know, after 34 years, this family's had to deal with this case and it would really ease the burden of their suffering if we could somehow bring this to a resolution.

[Ashley Flowers]

Anyone with information on who is responsible for the death of Luther Michelle is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department. That can be done by calling 318-673-7300 and asking for someone in Investigations. For other ways on how to contact the Shreveport Police Department and to view materials relating to this case, check out our blog post on thedeckpodcast.com the deck is an Audio Chuck production with theme music by Ryan Lewis. To learn more about the Deck and our advocacy work, visit thedeckpodcast.com I think Chuck would approve. Here you are. BPM's high sweat dripping, body moving, tongue panting.

[Tammy Michel]

You're working hard. Real hard.

[Ashley Flowers]

And you're thirsty. You need vitamins, nutrients for peak performance and energy. And your plants do too.

[Tammy Michel]

Aw.

[Ashley Flowers]

I mean, just look at the little guy. Water soluble plant food from Miracle Gro is full of essential nutrients. Just a little scoop into your watering can and boom. Instant feeding and bigger, more beautiful plants. It's kind of like a sports drink for your plants. You may have to suffer from heat, but your plants do not. With leading networking and connectivity, advanced cybersecurity and expert partnership, Comcast business helps turn today's enterprises into engines of modern business Powering the engine of modern business powering possibilities Restrictions apply.