Louisiana Authorities Searching For Man Indicted In Shaken Baby Homicide
Lake Charles, Louisiana – Authorities in Louisiana are searching for a man indicted on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of a young child, and believe he may currently be in the Lake Charles area or traveling through parts of Southwest Louisiana.
St. Landry Parish District Attorney Chad Pitre announced that a St. Landry Parish grand jury indicted 30-year-old Benjamin Philip Baquet on Nov. 21 on one count of second-degree murder. The charge stems from the death of a child whose fatal injuries were ruled a homicide caused by what doctors described as shaken baby syndrome—a term often used for severe brain and body injuries that occur when an infant is violently shaken.
Background Of The Case
The case dates back to 2017, when the victim, then just 7 weeks old, was hospitalized with serious injuries. According to a 2017 release from the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, the infant was treated for:
- Brain bleeding
- A broken right clavicle
- Bruises
- Respiratory arrest
- Hemorrhages
At that time, St. Landry Parish authorities said the child’s mother and two Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) social workers reported that Baquet admitted to them he had shaken the baby. Following that report, Baquet was arrested in 2017 on a charge of second-degree cruelty to juveniles.
The child later died. After reviewing the case, medical findings, and prior investigative records, a St. Landry Parish grand jury returned a second-degree murder indictment against Baquet on Nov. 21. Doctors ruled the death a homicide linked to the injuries sustained when the child was 7 weeks old.
Authorities Believe Suspect May Be In Lake Charles Area
Law enforcement agencies now consider Baquet wanted in connection with the child’s death. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that a warrant has been issued for his arrest on the second-degree murder charge.
Authorities say they have received information that Baquet may be in the Lake Charles area at this time and could be traveling through other parts of southwest and south-central Louisiana, including:
- Lafayette
- Opelousas
Officials also believe he may be en route to Terrebonne Parish. Because of the possible travel route, law enforcement attention spans multiple parishes and several major road corridors through the region.
Description And Last Known Addresses
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office provided the following description of the suspect:
- Name: Benjamin Philip Baquet
- Age: 30
- Race/Sex: White male
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: Brown
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches
- Weight: 160 pounds
Authorities also released several last known addresses linked to Baquet in both Texas and Louisiana:
- 100 block of Whispering Oaks Street, Lumberton, Texas
- 100 block of Walters Lane, Kountze, Texas
- 800 block of Lasalle Street, Ville Platte, Louisiana
- 600 block of Country Ridge Road, Opelousas, Louisiana
Because of addresses in both states and the current belief that he may be moving across parish and possibly state lines, law enforcement is treating the search as an active and evolving effort.
Crime Stoppers Offering Reward For Information
To help locate and arrest Baquet, St. Landry Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to his capture.
Authorities emphasize that tips can be provided anonymously. Anyone with information on Baquet’s location is urged to call:
St. Landry Crime Stoppers: 337-948-8447
Tipsters are advised not to approach Baquet directly. Instead, they should contact law enforcement or Crime Stoppers if they believe they have seen him in Lake Charles, Lafayette, Opelousas, Terrebonne Parish, or anywhere else in Louisiana or neighboring Texas communities.
Anyone who may have information, even if it seems minor, is asked to contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers at 337-948-8447 to assist in the ongoing investigation and efforts to safely take the suspect into custody.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.