NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — NOPD Investigating Homicide After Body Discovered Along Chef Menteur Highway

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — NOPD Investigating Homicide After Body Discovered Along Chef Menteur Highway

NEW ORLEANS, LA — June 18, 2025 — A homicide investigation is underway in New Orleans East after a grim discovery was made late Wednesday afternoon in the 21700 block of Chef Menteur Highway, a stretch of road that runs through a largely undeveloped and remote area on the city’s eastern edge. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) confirmed that officers responded to the scene at approximately 4:34 p.m., after a passerby reported seeing a person lying motionless in the grass.

Upon arrival, Seventh District officers located the individual, who was unresponsive. Emergency medical personnel were summoned to the scene and later declared the victim deceased. The area was quickly cordoned off as NOPD Homicide Section detectives arrived to process the scene and launch a full investigation.

Initially, police believed the victim to be an unknown female, but further examination revealed that the body was that of an unidentified male. The identity of the deceased has not yet been confirmed, and the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s name and official cause of death following an autopsy and notification of next of kin.

According to early findings by investigators, foul play is suspected, and the death is being treated as a homicide. However, police have not disclosed specific details about the nature of the victim’s injuries, how long the body may have been at the location, or whether any evidence has been recovered from the scene.

“Detectives are currently working to determine what happened, who was involved, and what the motive may have been,” said a spokesperson for the NOPD. “This is an active and ongoing investigation.”

The remote location of the discovery — along a highway that cuts through heavily wooded areas and marshland — poses additional challenges for investigators. Detectives are canvassing the area for any possible surveillance footage, witnesses, or evidence that might provide leads. It’s unclear at this time whether the victim was killed at the scene or if the body was dumped there after the homicide occurred elsewhere.

The homicide adds to a troubling pattern of violence in the New Orleans East corridor, an area that has long struggled with both limited public safety infrastructure and sporadic violent crime. While Chef Menteur Highway is a key artery in and out of the city, it also traverses a largely industrial and undeveloped part of the city, making it a frequent site for illegal dumping and, tragically, abandoned crime scenes.

Residents and community leaders are again raising concerns about safety and surveillance in these isolated stretches. Some have called for increased patrols, while others are urging the city to invest in lighting, security cameras, and community outreach in neglected areas.

For now, the focus remains on identifying the victim and uncovering the circumstances that led to his death. Investigators are asking for the public’s help and encouraging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.

Tips can be submitted directly to the NOPD Homicide Division at 504-658-5300. To remain anonymous, members of the public can contact Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111, or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP. Online tips may also be submitted through www.crimestoppersgno.org.

As the investigation continues, the community is left with unanswered questions and another tragic reminder of the violence that continues to plague parts of the city. The NOPD has vowed to pursue every lead and bring justice to the victim and his loved ones.

Anyone with concerns or questions about the case is encouraged to reach out to the NOPD’s Public Affairs Division at nopdpio@nola.gov. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.