Fox News has reported that Ronn Jermaine Bell, a 38 year old man, was arrested Tuesday for the murder of Sadie Roberts-Joseph who was 75 years old. Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul stated during a press conference that Ronn Jermaine Bell was a tenant in a rental property owned by Sadie Roberts-Joseph and was behind on rent, owing about $1,200. Paul stated that officers are currently investigating a possible motive behind her murder:
Jermaine Bell already had a criminal history and served time in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. He has a prior arrest and conviction in 2004 for the attempted rape of a girl who was 8-years-old at the time.
The Baton Rouge coroner’s office said in a statement Monday that Sadie-Joseph’s cause of death was suffocation. Her body was found last Friday inside of a car trunk, three miles from her home.
Bell is currently being held at the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail.