Man confesses to 23 murders

A MAN arrested at a homeless shelter and charged with two killings has confessed to those and 21 others.

Ronald J Dominique, 42, was charged with nine additional counts of murder, bringing the total to 11 counts against him — 10 for first-degree murder and one for second-degree murder.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said that Dominique confessed to killing 23 men, all between the ages of 16 and 46, from 1997 to 2005.

“He stated how, when and where they were killed,” Larpenter said.

Joseph Waitz, the parish’s district attorney, said his office would seek the death penalty against Dominique, who was being held in Terrebonne Parish jail.

Dominique, who is indigent, did not have legal representation during questioning and a lawyer has not yet been appointed for him.

Sheriff’s officials say the confession is solid and that Dominique supplied details only the killer and investigators would know.

The victims’ bodies were found in seven south Louisiana parishes.

All the victims were bound and had been killed in similar fashion, Larpenter said, leading investigators to suspect the work of a serial killer.

Authorities added that Dominique had said he had sex with each of the victims. All of the 23 victims were homeless.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee said investigators had DNA evidence linking Dominique to at least two of the killings.