ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / August 11, 2000

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish deputies are looking for a Kenner manwanted for three rapes and abductions in St. John Parish and three rapes inJefferson Parish.

Leroy Perkins, 28, 2604 Richland, Kenner, has been identified by one of his victims as the man who abducted her from New Orleans and brought her to LaPlace.

The rapes in St. John Parish occurred on May 10, July 13 and Aug. 5.In the first two assaults Perkins allegedly approached the women as they stood at bus stops in New Orleans in the early hours of the morning.

Capt. Mike Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office said, “He offeredthe women a ride. He would be real nice, and he was driving a pretty nicecar.”However, once the victims got into the suspect’s car he allegedly held them at gunpoint and drove out to LaPlace near Fairway Drive, where he would assault and rape the women.

Tregre said in the Aug. 5 rape he didn’t bother to offer the victim a ride. “He just pulled out the gun and demanded that she get into the car,” said Tregre.

The first woman assaulted was dumped out of the suspect’s car, and she managed to get a ride back to New Orleans, where she reported the incident.

The suspect allegedly drove the other two women back to New Orleans.

Police were able to identify Perkins when his last victim reported some things he told her.

“He did a little too much talking,” said Tregre.

According to authorities, Perkins told the women his car had a bullet hole in it, that he had been shot in the leg and that he had been in jail.

A Kenner detective remembered a case with the same details. He pulled thefile of Perkins and got the victim to look at a line-up of photos.

The woman identified Perkins’ photograph.

Armed with a warrant, St. John and Jefferson Parish deputies raided Perkins’residence on Richland Street in Kenner. Perkins was not there, but theyfound evidence that linked him to the rapes.

“He took items from the victims as trophies,” said Tregre.

Ironically, Perkins appeared in court Monday morning for a weapons charge.

Police had not connected him with the rapes until after his court appearance, and Perkins disappeared.

Tregre said authorities believe he may be coming back to LaPlace because he has family in the Cambridge subdivision.

Perkins has a previous criminal record and spent time in prison for murder.

If anybody has any information on the whereabouts of Leroy Perkins they are urged to call 9-1-1 or the St. John Sheriff’s dispatchers at 652-6338.

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