Offender and APSO Correctional Officers Arrested in Jerome Stevenson Death Investigation
On November 4, 2023, the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office (APSO) DC-1 Jail Facility in Marksville reported a crime of violence committed against 26-year-old Jerome Stevenson, who was incarcerated in DC-1 at the time. Stevenson later died from his injuries. The APSO Criminal Investigations Unit investigated the matter. After a finding of probable cause, arrest warrants were issued by a 12th Judicial District Court Judge for the arrest of one incarcerated offender and two Corrections Deputies. The APSO investigation has resulted in the following arrests:
1) 37-year-old John Contrell Williams of Mansura, LA for Second degree murder. The bond was set at five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00).
2) 60-year-old Byron Oneal White of Simmesport, LA for Malfeasance in office. The bond was set at one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00).
3) 61-year-old Frank Overbey III of Hessmer, LA for Principal to Second degree murder. The bond was set at two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00).
Offender Williams was arrested, booked, and is scheduled to be transferred to another jail facility. Both Corrections Deputy White and Deputy Overbey were arrested, booked, and transferred to another jail facility in another parish for their safety. The investigation is still ongoing.
Sheriff David L. Dauzat wants the People of Avoyelles to know that we take our oath of office seriously. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. The public has entrusted us to perform our duties in a lawful manner with honesty and integrity. We will continue to do so.
Note: All persons named or shown in photographs and/or videos as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not yet been convicted of that criminal offense, and all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On the evening of Saturday, November 4, 2023, the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office DC-1 Jail Facility in Marksville reported an offender-on-offender crime of violence. An Ambulance was requested. Acadian Ambulance Service responded to APSO DC-1, they administered an emergency medical evaluation and treatment of a 26-year-old offender, Jerome Stevenson, and then transported him to the Avoyelles Hospital in Marksville, Louisiana. Stevenson was later transferred to the Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria, LA.
On November 6, 2023, Stevenson succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
On November 8, 2023, the Autopsy of Jerome Stevenson was conducted at Parish Forensics in Broussard, LA.
As of today, we have not received a copy of the official Autopsy Report from the Coroner’s Office.
From the beginning we have been in communication with the Louisiana State Police on this in-custody death investigation APSO is conducting.
There were surveillance cameras in the area where the incident occurred at APSO DC-1.
Please remember this is an active ongoing investigation. At the conclusion of our investigation, we will take law enforcement action. There will be justice and accountability.
We do not tolerate crimes of violence committed in our jail facilities. We have made several arrests in the past, of offenders and even employees that committed crimes of violence and/or excessive force, and sent the case files to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Sheriff David L. Dauzat wants the People of Avoyelles to know that we take our oath of office seriously. We hold ourselves to a higher standard. The public has entrusted us to perform our duties in a lawful manner with honesty and integrity. We will continue to do so.