Rolando Massingill Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter and is Expected to be Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

From the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office, Lake Charles, Louisiana – Rolando Anthony Massingill, age 31, plead guilty to one (1) count of Manslaughter on August 29, 2019, in the Fourteenth Judicial District Court.

As part of a negotiated plea, Massingill agreed to a sentencing recommendation to serve thirty (30) years in the Department of Corrections. The Honorable Sharon Wilson will formally sentence Massingill on September 9, 2019.

On August 13, 2017, Wayne Keith Reynaud, 68, was found deceased at his 113 East Greenway Steet home in Lake Charles by a family member. It appeared that the victim had been beaten before his death. Surveillance video and witnesses confirmed that Massingill had been in possession of the victim’s truck after the homicide. Several days later Massingill was located in Kinder, LA. He was found to be in possession of property belonging to the victim. The victims DNA was confirmed to be on Massingill’s clothing after testing.

“I would like to thank the officers and detectives of the Lake Charles Police Department who worked on this case for their tireless efforts to bring justice to the victims family. We are grateful that the defendant acknowledged his responsibility for this violent homicide. I hope that this conviction gives some measure of comfort to the family. Unfortunately, this won’t bring the victim back to his family, but I am glad we could help bring closure for them.”

Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel was the lead investigator for the Lake Charles Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Felony Prosecutor Jacob Johnson and Assistant District Attorney Denisse Parrales for the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s office.