Unjustified Arrest of an Individual in Connection with a Fatal Hit-and-Run Accident Involving a Six-Year-Old Boy, According to the District Attorney

In the small town of Slidell, Louisiana, a tragic hit-and-run incident occurred on August 13, claiming the life of 6-year-old Jeremiah Ramirez. The young boy was riding a scooter in his driveway when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.

Initially, Cody Beaudette, a local resident, was identified as the prime suspect. However, Beaudette maintained his innocence, claiming he was attending his daughter's cheerleading practice at the time of the accident. Despite his assertions, Cody Beaudette was booked on charges of vehicular homicide, hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

The incident received little attention from local investigators, but a private investigator, Dallas McLanahan, a former Slidell police officer, took matters into his own hands. McLanahan discovered a security camera capturing a silver Nissan Armada leaving the neighbourhood minutes after the crash, with significant front-end damage. He directly presented this evidence to District Attorney Colin Sims, who took over the case.

As the investigation progressed, Jordyn Rolston, Cody Beaudette's sister, also took it upon herself to investigate. She found further evidence supporting Beaudette's alibi and doubted the initial assessment of the deputies.

Eventually, hours later, a woman named Connie Noel Estes was arrested in connection with the fatal hit-and-run. Estes was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on charges of Felony Hit-and-Run with Death or Serious Bodily Injury and Felony Obstruction of Justice. A judge set a $1 million bond for Estes.

The District Attorney's office later dropped all death-related charges against Cody Beaudette. Beaudette described his experience as "stressful, depressing, emotional. Every word you can think of. I mean, it was a nightmare."

Despite the charges against him remaining, Beaudette hopes his experience will prompt more thorough investigations in the future. The St. Tammany Sheriff's Office has not yet commented on whether they will review their initial handling of the case.