A Louisiana grand jury delivered a surprise yesterday by indicting a man not only for the murder of a missing college student, but also for an unsolved cold case killing from 1999.
The indictment of Brandon Scott Lavergne, 33, a registered sex offender, for the murder of University of Louisiana undergrad Mickey Shunick was expected. Police arrested him two weeks ago, though Shunick's body hasn't been found since she vanished in May.
Cops linked him to Shunick because he owns a truck that was seen trailing the 21-year-old as she rode her bicycle the night she disappeared. The Chevy pickup was found burned in Texas days later while Shunick's damaged bike turned up beneath a bridge.
The stunning development yesterday in a Lafayette Parish court was an apparent break in the 13-year-old investigation into the slaying of Lisa Pate. The 35-year-old woman was reported missing in June 1999 and then found buried beneath boards in a field in Church Point, Louisiana, according to the Associated Press.
PHOTOS of Mickey Shunick (story continues below):
Mickey Shunick
Mickey Shunick(01 of25)
Open Image ModalAuthorities in Louisiana are searching for Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, a 22-year-old senior anthropology major at the University of Louisiana, who was last seen on the morning of May 19. (credit:Nancy Shunick )
Brandon Lavergne(02 of25)
Open Image ModalBrandon Lavergne was arrested on a murder charge in connection with Louisiana college student Mickey Shunick's disappearance. (credit:St. Landry Parish Sex Offenders Registry)
Mickey Shunick(03 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick left a friend's home on Ryan Street in Lafayette, Louisiana on the morning of May 19. Shunick was cycling to her home on Governor Miro Drive, a distance of about four miles, when she vanished without a trace, the Lafayette Police Department said. (credit:Nancy Shunick )
Mickey Shunick(04 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick(05 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick(06 of25)
Open Image ModalA private donor is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Mickey Shunick's whereabouts, no questions asked. (credit:Nancy Shunick )
Mickey Shunick(07 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick(08 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick is described as a white female, 5'1" tall and approximately 115 lbs. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. Shunick has a small tattoo of a bicycle on her right outer ankle and a nose ring on her left nostril. She was last seen wearing a pastel striped shirt, light wash denim skinny jeans, and silver ankle boots. She was carrying a light brown leather backpack, a black and yellow Vera Bradley wallet, a black Verizon slider phone and a small pink container of mace. (credit:Nancy Shunick )
Mickey Shunick(09 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick(10 of25)
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Open Image ModalMickey Shunick(13 of25)
Open Image ModalMickey Shunick(14 of25)
Open Image ModalPolice in the Lafayette area encourage anyone with any information regarding Mickey Shunick's whereabouts to contact them at 337-291-8600. Tipsters can also send an email to findmickeyshunick@yahoo.com. (credit:Nancy Shunick )
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Open Image Modal (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image ModalAshley Says, Kim Schifino and Mickey Shunick (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image ModalMickey Shunick with her brother Zack, her sister, Charlene, her father Mckey and her mom Nancy. (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image ModalMickey Shunick and her sister Charlene (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image ModalMickey Shunick and her sister Charlene (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image ModalMickey Shunick and Raven Talley (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image ModalAshley Prado, Marion Trosclair and Mickey Shunick (credit:Facebook: Mickey Shunick)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Facebook: FIND MICKEY SHUNICK NOW)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Facebook: FIND MICKEY SHUNICK NOW)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Facebook: FIND MICKEY SHUNICK NOW)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Facebook: FIND MICKEY SHUNICK NOW)
However, authorities released little information yesterday connecting Lavergne to Pate's death, the Daily Advertiser reported.
Lavergne, 33, was labeled a sex offender after kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in 1999. He went to jail for eight years.