Body found near Gibson identified

Terrebonne Parish authorities on Thursday released the identity of the man whose remains were found Feb. 24 near Gibson. They say the investigation indicates he may have been taken there because of a drug debt and was killed.

​Sheriff Tim Soignet identified the victim as Jake Menard, 36, of Lafayette.

Three St. Mary men have been charged with first-degree murder in the case, and a fourth is accused of being an accessory after the fact.

Menard was reported missing to Lafayette police in November 2019.

A short time later, Morgan City Police Department Detectives began receiving information that Menard was murdered in the Gibson area, the sheriff said.

"Information received was that Menard was brought from Morgan City to Gibson to settle an unpaid drug debt, where he was murdered and buried," according to Soignet.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office detectives began investigating with the Morgan City Police Department and then Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives until Menard’s remains were located in February 2021.

Sheriff Soignet advised that this was a lengthy investigation by all three agencies that ended with the apprehension of Seth Lovett, 33, Morgan City; Alvin Fitch 34, Morgan City; and Christopher Martin, 34, Berwick, each on one count of first-degree murder.

Chance Boudreaux, 26, Morgan City was charged with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. All four men were arrested within days of the discovery of Menard's body.

Soignet thanked the Morgan City Police Department, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and the LSU Faces Lab for their help in this investigation.