Louisiana Bill Would Help Families of Murdered Investigators

A week after two unarmed Louisiana insurance fraud investigators were shot and killed while looking into a case, state lawmakers are working to give the investigators’ families some compensation.

The Louisiana Senate unanimously agreed Wednesday to expand existing law to make the investigators’ families eligible for payments the state makes to survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Spouses can receive a $250,000 payment and dependent children $25,000.

Kim Sledge and Rhett Jeansonne had been on what appeared to be a routine assignment to collect records from a suspended insurance agent in Ville Platte, when state police say the agent shot the investigators and then shot himself.

The compensation proposal heads next to the House for debate.