Executive Summary
- Scott Jordan was indicted for second-degree murder in the 2017 death of Donna Arceneaux in Franklinton, Louisiana.
- The case was reopened after the “Freeze Frame” podcast highlighted a coroner’s report ruling the death a homicide, contradicting police statements of suicide.
- Sheriff Jason Smith credited the podcast with sparking the re-investigation, which relied on analyzing inconsistencies in past statements rather than new physical evidence.
- Defense attorney Roy Burns maintains the case is circumstantial and asserts his client’s innocence.
A Louisiana grand jury has indicted a 59-year-old man on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the 2017 death of Donna Arceneaux, a significant development credited by local law enforcement to renewed interest generated by a true-crime podcast. Scott Jordan, a radiology technician and former boyfriend of the victim, was arrested following a re-examination of the case files by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, the grand jury returned the indictment on January 14, more than eight years after Arceneaux was found dead in her Franklinton home. While the initial police investigation in 2017 led the Sheriff’s office to publicly describe the death as a suicide, a coroner’s report at the time had ruled the death a homicide. Current Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith told USA TODAY that the discrepancy and the subsequent cold status of the case were revisited after the release of “Freeze Frame,” an investigative podcast produced by the victim’s nephew, Tucker Simmons.
Investigators discovered Arceneaux’s body with a gunshot wound to the chest and a weapon placed on the opposite side of the bed. Retired investigator Demmie Rice, speaking on the podcast, noted inconsistencies at the crime scene, including evidence suggesting blood had been cleaned from the bathroom despite the fatal wound occurring in the bedroom. Sheriff Smith stated that a review of the evidence led to the conclusion that the death was “clearly a homicide,” contradicting the previous administration’s public statements.
The investigation gained momentum after Simmons launched the podcast in 2024, utilizing billboard advertisements and interviews to highlight the coroner’s overlooked homicide ruling. Sheriff Smith acknowledged that while no new physical evidence was discovered, investigators built the case against Jordan by eliminating other suspects and identifying inconsistencies in Jordan’s previous statements. Jordan, who has pleaded not guilty, was released on a reduced bond of $500,000 under the condition of electronic monitoring. His attorney, Roy Burns, stated that the case is entirely circumstantial and that Jordan adamantly maintains his innocence.
Investigative Implications and Judicial Process
The indictment of Scott Jordan underscores the evolving dynamic between law enforcement agencies and independent media investigations in resolving dormant cases. While the podcast served as a catalyst for reopening the inquiry, the prosecution now faces the challenge of securing a conviction based largely on circumstantial evidence and a re-interpretation of existing files rather than new forensic discoveries. The defense is expected to leverage the conflicting official determinations—suicide versus homicide—made by authorities over the last eight years to challenge the state’s narrative. As these legal proceedings commence, the court will likely focus heavily on the credibility of witness statements and the procedural integrity of the initial investigation. It is important to note that all individuals, including Scott Jordan, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
