FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF A THREE YEAR OLD CHILD

FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF A THREE YEAR OLD CHILD –
BERNARD JR FLEANDER

BELLE ROSE – Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reports the arrest of Bernard JR Fleander, 26, of 6751 Highway 308, Belle Rose, La., on charges of first-degree murder related to the death of a 3 year old Belle Rose girl.

At approximately 3:20 A.M. Thursday morning, deputies were dispatched to Assumption Community Hospital in Napoleonville in reference to a child whom had been transported to the facility by a male subject. The child was unresponsive and medical personnel immediately instituted life saving measures which were unsuccessful. The child was pronounced dead a short time later.

Detectives initiated an investigation and learned that the child had been transported to the hospital by an individual now identified as Bernard JR Fleander who was caring for the child as well as other children. Bernard JR Fleander is not the biological father of the deceased child. Detectives observed significant injuries throughout the child’s body.

Detectives executed a search warrant upon the residence located at 6751 Highway 308, Belle Rose, La. Detectives interviewed witnesses who were present at the home when the incident occurred.

The child’s body was transported to a forensic facility where an autopsy was conducted. The manner of death was classified as homicide.

Bernard JR Fleander was detained as part of the investigation.

As the investigation progressed into Thursday afternoon, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Bernard JR Fleander.

On Thursday afternoon, Bernard JR Fleander was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on charges of:
*First Degree Murder
*Failure to Appear – Assumption Parish – Simple Battery

Bernard JR Fleander remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
While the investigation continues, no additional arrests are anticipated.

For additional information concerning this News Release, contact Sheriff Leland Falcon or Public Information Officer, Lonny Cavalier at (985) 498-9353 or (985) 369-2912.