Two women were killed by murderers on January 13 while trying to protect the life of a rape victim who was the target of a murder plot for hire organized by a family member, officials said.
Brittany Cormier, 34, and Hope Nettleton, 37, were shot dead in the attack in Montegut, Louisiana, but none were the victim, according to the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Brittany Cormier’s brother, Beaux Cormier, was actually conspiring to kill his niece, who would testify against him for allegedly raping her, Sheriff Tim Soignet said at a news conference on Monday. Beaux Cormier is already a convicted sex offender and was arrested on suspicion of raping his niece in March 2020.
He is accused of paying two of his friends, Andrew Eskine, 25, and Dalvin Wilson, 22, for carrying out the murder.
On January 13, Wilson drove to Brittany Cormier’s home, where he reportedly asked the rape victim to identify himself. Instead, Brittany lied, saying that she was the victim. According to the sheriff, Wilson then shot her.
“Brittany Cormier [told] the sniper is the rape victim, accepting his fate to save the life of the real victim, “said Soignet.
Nettleton, a neighbor who visited Brittany’s home during the incident, was also killed while trying to fight the sniper, officials said. Both women died at the scene. The rape victim is alive, police said.
Samantha LeMaire, a close friend of Brittany’s, told Acadiana Advocate that she didn’t know much about Brittany’s relationship with Beaux, as her friend hardly ever spoke about her brother. According to local media, Brittany’s children were hiding in a closet during the incident.
“She would do anything for the children,” said LeMaire of her friend. “But up to this point? I never would have thought it would come to that.”
This was not the killer’s first attempt to kill Beaux’s niece, police said. The two had previously driven for more than two hours from their respective Louisiana cities to keep an eye on the house, then tried to carry out the murder in November, but failed, officials said.
On the day of the attack, Wilson went alone. Eskine was out of town on business, but is still facing charges because he allegedly helped plan the attack and lent Wilson his car.
All three men have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and are being held on $ 2 million bail each. The district attorney for the Terrebonne parish, Joseph L. Waitz Jr., said at the news conference that the death penalty “is absolutely on the table”.