On Thursday, June 1, 2017 a detective with the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office (RRPSO) received a call from a concerned citizen in the Fairview Alpha community in Natchitoches Parish in reference to a battered female. The caller reported that the woman, who was covered in blood, stated that her boyfriend was responsible for her injuries. The suspect was identified as Jeremy D. Key of the Martin community in Red River Parish. It was unclear initially if the incident occurred in Red River or Natchitoches Parish.
The victim was taken to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center for treatment. The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office (NPSO) dispatched a deputy to meet with the victim at the hospital while RRPSO deputies attempted to locate Key in Martin. Despite reports that the subject had recently been seen near Benton Adkins Road in Martin, a search for Key in the surrounding area was unsuccessful.
RRPSO deputies proceeded to the suspect’s residence. Upon arrival, signs of a disturbance were immediately apparent. This supported information that NPSO deputies obtained following a conversation with the victim. Once the area was secured, entry was made into the house. Key was not located. The scene was photographed and potential evidence collected.
Once the crime scene was confirmed, RRPSO detectives were dispatched to the Natchitoches Parish hospital to meet with the victim. The victim reported that she was asleep when Key doused her with a bucket of mop water and began beating her with a handful of wrenches. She stated that he was also threatening to kill her. As the altercation moved throughout the house, he reportedly struck her with a jack stand and repeated the threats to kill her. She was eventually able to break free and escape to a neighbor’s house. After getting a ride to Natchitoches Parish, she was transported to the Natchitoches Parish hospital for treatment.
The following day detectives secured a warrant for Key’s arrest for Attempted 2nd Degree Murder. That same day, numerous RRPSO deputies once again responded to the Martin community after receiving information that Key had been spotted in the area. Efforts to locate Key, including utilizing RRPSO’s K-9 team and aerial surveillance drone, were unsuccessful.
The following afternoon, RRPSO communications alerted NSPO communications to be on the lookout for a red SUV believed to be carrying Key. It was reported to be traveling south on US Hwy 71/84 approaching the Red River/Natchitoches Parish line. A responding NPSO deputy spotted the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. As the vehicle came to a stop, a passenger bolted from the car and entered the woods near Messick Road and Holman Loop in the Fairview Alpha community. The driver and a second passenger were detained and questioned, enabling authorities to confirm that Key was the fleeing subject. A subsequent search of the area by NPSO and RRPSO deputies were unsuccessful. At this time, the whereabouts of Key remain unknown.
The public is asked to be on the lookout for gray 2014 Dodge Charger. It has no license plate and displays a BPCC sticker on the rear of the vehicle. This vehicle was stolen from the Martin area around the same time frame and may or may not be tied to Key.
Key is a W/M, age 41, height/6’00”, weight/195, hair/light colored, balding w/gray. He was last seen wearing blue jean denim shorts, a light blue/gray colored t-shirt, a light colored cap and white tennis shoes. It is unknown if Key is armed.
Anyone with information concerning Key’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the RRPSO at 318-932-4221 or the NPSO at 318-352-6432.