True-crime Friday: Ronald Joseph Dominique, the Bayou Strangler

Ronald Joseph Dominique is a serial killer and serial rapist. He was born January 9, 1964, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. His reign of terror started 1997-2006. He murdered up to 26 or more people during this time span. His victims were men and boys between the ages of 16-46. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) rated the Bayou Strangler the most prolific serial killer they had investigated at that time. Yet most people have never heard of this killer.

He had more victims than most serial killers with fame and notoriety yet he received very little national publicity. As you will later see the less dead theory played a significant role in said publicity. Ronald Joseph Dominique childhood and teenage years consisted of poverty. He sang in the school choir but was still considered a social outcast. He was bullied throughout school and his life. He attended school at Thibodaux High School and he graduated in 1983. After high school he attended Nicholls State University where he studied Computer Science but dropped out a few years later.

He was known to have a bad temperament in school, a lack of social skills and he was overweight. He was teased relentlessly for being overweight and also accused of being gay in which he steadfastly denied. Some of his classmates said they had seen him frequent gay bars but Ronald Joseph Dominique denied those accusations. On June 25, 1985, he was arrested on charges of sexual harassment via telephone. He paid a $75.00 fine. He had a series of low paying jobs and struggled to keep them because of behavioral issues. He depended upon relatives to help him when he did not have a job. His mother and sister helped him with his bills and living accommodations.

The Beginning of Ronald Joseph Dominique's Crime Spree

In May of 1994, he was arrested for drunk driving. In August of 1996, a partially nude male youth jumped out of the window of the residence of Dominique's sister. Ronald lived at that residence at the time of this alleged crime happened. The youth told neighbors that he had been raped and Ronald tried to kill him. Dominique was arrested and his bail was set at $100.000. The case was dismissed when transferred to another court and the new court was unable to locate the victim.

In February of 2002, Ronald was arrested again for assaulting a woman during a Mardi Gras festival. He claimed the woman had hit a baby stroller in the parking lot because of her reckless driving. He demanded an apology, and when she apologized he punched her in the face! Ronald was charged with assault but the case was later dropped. The two parties came to an agreement of reconciliation and he had made amends.

Ronald spent most of his free time at gay bars and dressed as Patti LaBelle one of his idols. He was unable to form any meaningful relationships. He was looked down upon by the LGBTQ community.

The Victims of Ronald Joseph Dominique

• David Mitchell, 19, found in July 14, 1997, in a ditch along the highway in a wooded area of St. Charles Parish. His death of ruled accidental until Mitchell’s father insisted that his son was an excellent swimmer.
• Gary Pierre, 20, he was found July 1, 1998, with no signs of trauma.
• Larry Ranson, 38, he was unhoused at the time of his death. He was found July 31, 1998.
• Oliver LeBanks, 27, LeBanks's body was later disposed of on the outskirts of Metairie, where it was found on October 4, 1998.
• Joseph Brown 16, he was found in a dumpster in the city's industrial zone.
• Bruce Williams 18, Williams fell victim to Dominique in similar circumstances as Joseph Brown.
• Manuel Reed, 21, he was found in a dumpster in the city's industrial zone a few miles away where victims Joseph Brown and Bruce Williams were discovered.
• Angel Mejia, 34, the victim had been tied up with a rope prior to his death., law enforcement established that Mejia, Brown and a few other victims lived in close proximity to each other.
• Mitchell Johnson, he was discovered on September 1, 1998.
• Michael Vincent, 23, he was found in a wooded area of Lafourche Parish in January, 2000.
• Kenneth Randolph, Jr, 20, he was found in a field outside the city, on October 6, 2000.
• Anoka Jones, 26, was found October 12, 2002 in Houma.
• Datrell Woods, 19, he was found May 24, 2003 in a field in Bayou Blue.
• Larry Matthews, 46, found October 2004.
• Michael Barnett, 21, whose body was found on October 24, 2004.
• Leon Lirett, 22, who was unhoused found February 2005.
• August Watkins, 31, found April of 2005.
• Kurt Cunningham, 23, found April of 2005.
• Alonzo Hogan, 28, found the summer of 2005, in St. Charles Parish.
• Wayne Smith, 17, found summer of 2005, in Terrebonne Parish.
• Chris Deville, 40, found in a field after Hurricane Katrina.
• Nicholas Pellegrin, 21, found the summer of 2005.
• Christopher Sutterfield, 27, found summer of 2006, it was after this victim was found that police began to realize they may have a serial killer on the loose.
• Ricky Wallace, survivor.

The Less Dead at Play

Ronald Joseph Dominique came under police suspicion in November of 2006, after Ricky Wallace, a resident of Bayou Blue, reported that Dominique had lured him to his trailer in mid-2006 with an offer to share drugs and have sex with a girl. There was no girl it was a lie to get his victims to come with him, which worked on the majority of men that were not gay. He lured gay men by offering sex, money and drugs. “After Wallace entered the trailer, according to his testimony, Dominique tried to convince him that his girlfriend enjoyed bondage, offering to tie Wallace up. Ricky refused, and soon after he was allowed to leave.” The testimony of the poor or disadvantage are not taken seriously by police and prosecutors which allows criminals to get away with their crimes. In this case, the police took the word of the victim and Ronald Dominique was questioned by police. While he was held at the station, Dominique agreed to donate a blood sample. Ronald had left his DNA at several crimes scenes which led to his capture.

The majority of these victims were unhoused, drug addicts or had committed some type of crime. The police viewed them as less dead. It was not until several of the victim’s families cried out for justice and the media began investigating their stories that the police finally started to take these crimes seriously. It must be stated that not all of Ronald’s victims were drug users, unhoused or had committed a crime, they had the unfortunate stereotype of being less worthy because of their social economic status and race.

Lady Justice

After accepting a plea deal, September 24, 2008, the court found Dominique guilty on all charges. Ronald Joseph Dominique was sentenced to eight life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Reference

Man allegedly charmed victims before killing (nbcnews.com)

Ronald Dominique | Photos | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Ronald Dominique - Wikipedia