Derrick Lee Indicted in Murder of Geralyn DeSoto

A third parish announced Monday it will seek the death penalty against suspected serial killer Derrick Todd Lee. A grand jury sitting in Port Allen indicted Lee Monday afternoon for the murder of Geralyn DeSoto. The indictment comes after a grand jury hearing two weeks ago that most of us didn't even know about. WAFB Matt Clough has that story plus a separate story involving a special meeting held by law enforcement officials investigating all the serial killings.

We already knew Derrick Todd Lee faced the death penalty for the murder of Charolotte Murray Pace in Baton Rouge and for Dene' Colomb in Lafayette . But now in West Baton Rouge, 18th District Assistant Prosecutor Becky Chustz says she will seek the death penalty in the Geralyn DeSoto case.

A West Baton Rouge grand jury says there is enough evidence to send suspected serial killer Derrick Lee to trial for the stabbing murder of Geralyn DeSoto in Jnuary 2002. Assistant Dstrict Atorney Becky Chustz says the indictment follows testimony heard against Lee on November 24th.

The West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department recently executed four search warrants- including one last Tuesday at Lee's former house- to get more evidence dealing with DeSoto's murder.Sheriff-elect Mike Cazes said, "Naturally we want the death penalty and we're going to seek the death penalty. We'll work with the da to get the death penalty and whatever due after the he gets what he deserves."

While Monday's indictment will have the suspected serial killer answering questions in court- members of the various law enforcement agencies investigating the serial killings held a high-powered meeting to answer any of their questions on the investigation. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Doug Moreau calls the gathering a communication meeting- a chance to get everyone on the same page, "We had everyone invited. Just a chance to touch base and talk more on a global scale about where things stood."

At one point- a cart of white boxes containing evidence was wheeled into the meeting room. But law enforcement agents did not discuss what the evidence included. Moreau says this meeting was simply for everyone to get introduced and updated on the case, "Sometimes there is information released in the press that someone will read the wrong way and it is good to touch base face to face so everyone knows exactly what is going on."

Lee's arraignment date has not been set, however Sheriff-elect Cazes says he will have extra security on hand when the accused serial killer appears before a judge to enter his plea.