NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of an unresponsive male lying on the floor of his residence on March 14 around 11:06 pm in the 100 block of Jim Bell Road, north of Campti. Deputies arrived on scene at approximately 11:12 pm.

 

While on scene, deputies made contact with a relative that stated he went to the residence to check on his uncle. Soon afterwards, he observed the front door breached and observed his Uncle lying on the floor unresponsive.

 

Deputies entered residence discovering a deceased male lying on the floor identified as 71-year-old Mark L. Hailey, of Campti.

Detectives assigned to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Natchitoches Parish Coroner’s Office were summoned and responded to the scene.

 

Deputies say while speaking with the relative they learned Mr. Hailey’s 2015 Ford F-350 pickup truck, maroon in color was missing from the residence. NATCOM 911 Center issued a BOLO for the vehicle.

 

Natchitoches Parish Asst. Coroner Steven Clanton pronounced Hailey dead at the scene from apparent blunt and sharp force trauma. The body has been transported to a Shreveport Forensic Pathologist Office for an autopsy to determine the matter and cause of death. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

 

Detectives brought in special lighting equipment to assist them while they photographed, and processed the crime scene throughout the night.

 

NATCOM 911 Center received a call on March 15 shortly after 7:30 am of a suspicious vehicle being abandoned on Tauzin Island Road in the Grand Ecore area near Natchitoches.

 

Deputies responded and discovered the abandoned vehicle to be the victim’s 2015 Ford F-350 truck.

 

NPSO Detectives requested assistance from the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit.

 

Detectives along with 3 Red River Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Technicians processed the vehicle for evidence.

 

The vehicle has been towed and secured at an undisclosed storage facility for further processing.

 

A team of detectives worked throughout the day interviewing family and friends of Mr. Hailey in an effort to gather additional facts or other information to assist in the investigation.

 

Detectives learned Mr. Hailey was the owner of Fat Daddy’s Crawfish in Shreveport and at one time owned Fat Daddy’s Crawfish on Texas Street in Natchitoches.

 

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Sheriff Wright stated, “Our detectives, in conjunction with assistance from the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office and Northwest La. Crime Lab, are working tirelessly in an effort to identify the person or persons responsible for this senseless crime of violence.”

 

At this time, no additional information will be released to protect the integrity of the investigation.

 

If you have any information, please contact the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 318-357-7830 or you can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $2,500 for the arrest of an offender.

Crime Stoppers is a private non-profit organization it is not a law enforcement agency.