JAMES McKENZIE - 15 yo -(2009) New Orleans LA

Police are investigating a murder in the 4700 block of Hauck Drive
in New Orleans East. At this point, investigators are not identifying
the body, but relatives tell Eyewitness News that the victim is
15-year-old James McKenzie, who had been missing since Monday.
McKenzie's family members held a prayer vigil Saturday morning, before
canvassing the neighborhood with fliers in an effort to find him.
"We wore red to symbolize the blood shed in New Orleans-- all the
young men who are dying," said Freda Jones, McKenzie's aunt. "We formed
a prayer service and we got together and we did a neighborhood search."
While passing out fliers in the neighborhood, family members and
friends also began checking abandoned homes. When several went into a
gutted home at the corner of Prentiss and Hauck Drive, they say they
found McKenzie's body inside, wrapped in plastic.
"I think the neighborhoods are getting tired because a lot of people spoke out and sent us in this direction," Jones said.
New Orleans Police were called to the scene and are classifying the death as a homicide, but are releasing little information.
"Someone was detained for questioning," said Officer Jonette
Williams, a spokesperson for the NOPD. "At this point, no one is under
arrest."
Neighbors appeared shocked at the turn of events.
"It breaks my heart that somebody lost a child," said Mike Collins, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years.
McKenzie's family members said they have a little closure, now that they found him.
"We were relieved to know that we did have a body, because we knew he wouldn't just leave," Jones said.
Jones also said this is the second murder the family has dealt with
this year. In February, Jones' husband, former NOPD Officer Willie
Jones, Jr. was found shot to death in New Orleans East, after getting
into an accident while driving on I-10. In the meantime, Crimestoppers
is offering a $2,500 reward for anyone with information on this latest
case. Crimestoppers can be reached at (504) 822-1111.

The New Orleans Police Department has arrested two 17-year-old teens, charging them both with second-degree murder.

Investigators say the two are responsible for the death of a victim
found in an abandoned house at the intersection of Hauck and Prentiss
Drives.

While the NOPD has not identified the victim, family members have told the media that the body is that of 15-year-old James McKenzie, who has
been missing since Monday.

While passing out fliers about the missing youth, family members say
they also began checking abandoned homes. That's when several of them
say they found McKenzie's body inside a gutted home, wrapped in plastic.

Arrested were 17-year-old Dennis Lewis and 17-year-old Dajuan Alridge

1 ALRIDGE, DAJUAN A
1 RS 14 30.1 BOND: 1,000,000.00
SECOND DEGREE MURDER

2 LEWIS, DENNIS D
1 RS 14 30.1 BOND: 1,000,000.00
SECOND DEGREE MURDER
03/17/2011 BUTSCHERM

>DEFENSE COUNSEL DON DONNELLY APPEARED WITHOUT DEFENDANT, DAJUAN
DAJUAN A ALRIDGE, FOR HEARING ON MOTIONS >HEARING ON MOTIONS
SET FOR 04/29/11 >SEND NOTICES. >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL
>AS TO DEFENDANT, DENNIS D LEWIS: ON MOTIONS >ON ORAL MOTION BY
THE DEFENSE, THE COURT GRANTED A CONTINUANCE A ATTORNEY, ERIC
MALVEAUX, IS IN TRIAL IN ANOTHER SECTION OF COURT. >HEARING ON
MOTIONS SET FOR 04/29/11 >SEND NOTICES. >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL.
>PDOJL

http://www.opcso.org/dcktmstr/dmdspscn.php?d1scnn=760012

09/29/11 >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL
09/29/2011 BUTSCHERM
>DEFENSE COUNSEL DON DONNELLY APPEARED ON BEHALF OF DEFENDANT,
DAJUAN A ALRIDGE FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE >PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE
SET FOR 10/28/11 >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL
>DEFENSE COUNSEL ERIC MALVEAUX, CONFLICT APPEARED WITHOUT
DEFENDANT, DENNIS D LEWIS, FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE >PRE-TRIAL
CONFERENCE SET FOR 10/28/11 >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL

http://www.opcso.org/dcktmstr/666666.php?&docase=495802

10/28/2011 BUTSCHERM
>THE DEFENDANT, DAJUAN A ALRIDGE APPEARED FOR PRE-TRIAL
PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE WITH COUNSEL, DON DONNELLY. PRE-TRIAL
STATUS HELD. >PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE SET FOR 11/17/11 >SEND
NOTICES. >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL
>THE DEFENDANT, DENNIS D LEWIS APPEARED FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE
WITH COUNSEL, ERIC MALVEAUX, CONFLICT PRE-TRIAL STATUS HELD.
>PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE SET FOR 11/17/11 >SEND NOTICES. >NOTIFY
DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL

http://www.opcso.org/dcktmstr/666666.php?&docase=495802

11/17/2011 BUTSCHERM
>DEFENSE COUNSEL DON DONNELLY, T. MCCLARY APPEARED WITHOUT
DEFENDANT, DAJUAN A ALRIDGE FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE >PRE-TRIAL
CONFERENCE SET FOR 12/14/11 >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL
>DEFENSE COUNSEL ERIC MALVEAUX, CONFLICT APPEARED WITHOUT
DEFENDANT, DENNIS D LEWIS, FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE >PRE-TRIAL
CONFERENCE SET FOR 12/14/11 >NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL. >PDOJL

http://www.opcso.org/dcktmstr/666666.php?&docase=495802

Docket; Dennis Lewis and Dajuan Alridge

02/07/2014                                                    

>THE DEFENDANT, DAJUAN A ALRIDGE APPEARED FOR PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE WITH COUNSEL, AARON CLARK RIZZIO ADA, LAURA RODRIGUE, PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE STATE.
>TRIAL SET FOR 04/15/14
>SEND NOTICES.
>NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL.
>PDOJL            
 
>AS TO DEFENDANT, DENNIS D LEWIS: PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE ADA, LAURA RODRIGUE, PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE STATE.
>TRIAL SET FOR 04/15/14
>SEND NOTICES.
>NOTIFY DEF.COUNSEL.
>PDOJL


http://www.opcso.org/dcktmstr/666666.php?&docase=495802