Remains found in a rural area of Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, in 2018 were identified as belonging to Erica Nicole Hunt, an Opelousas woman who disappeared in 2016, the Louisiana State Police Department announced last week.
The remains were found during a search for a missing child at the time, but were not identified until two years later through the efforts of the Louisiana State Police Criminal Laboratory, the Forensic Anthropology Laboratory and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) and DNA Doe Project, Louisiana I State Police spokesman Thomas Gossen said in the statement.
On February 5, 2021, State Police investigators announced that they were able to positively confirm a forensic correspondence with Erica Hunt.
The Louisiana State Police is investigating Erica’s death as a homicide with the assistance of Evangeline Parish’s Sheriff’s Office and the Opelousas Police Department.
Breionna’s 20-year-old mother, then 2, disappeared on the weekend of July 4, 2016. A July 4 meeting with her family in Opelousas on July 3 was the last time she was seen by her family.
Erica’s mother and sister spoke to Dateline in the summer of 2020.
“It was just a good day for our family,” Erica’s sister, Shantashia Isaac, told Dateline. “Everyone was just enjoying and having fun.”
Shantashia said Erica appeared to be having fun while talking about plans for her 21st birthday and was working on moving to a new home.
Erica’s mother, Shannon Isaac, told Dateline that she remembers her daughter talking about her plans to go to Lake Charles the next day with a friend who also had a son. But these plans never came to pass.
In 2020, Chief McClelland told Dateline that there were no suspects in Erica’s disappearance. But after the discovery and identification of her remains, Erica’s death is being investigated as a homicide and the public is invited to call the authorities with any information that may help in the case.
In a statement posted on the Facebook page “Bring Erica Hunt home,” the family said, “For those of you who liked it and shared it. Today we received the news that Erica Nicole Hunt’s remains have been found. Thank you all for your concern, shares and prayers. “
Anyone with information about Erica’s case asked to contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers at 948-8477 (TIPS), online at stlandrycrimestoppers.com, or via Facebook by leaving a WEBTIP. Tips can also be sent via text message, sending TIPS625 plus the tip to CRIMES (274637).
The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is also available by visiting www.lsp.org and clicking on the Suspicious Activity link.
