VILLE PLATTE — Ville Platte Police have booked a Baton Rouge man in connection with the June disappearance of Ville Platte mother KeKe Doucet.
Loved ones of 27-year-old Keabreonna have gathered in prayer Wednesday afternoon holding hands and seeking comfort after hearing the news about the arrest. After six long months, the family has finally received a breakthrough in the case of her disappearance.
Doucet, 27, vanished in mid-June, last seen leaving her West Live Oak Street home. She's never been found.
“My niece has been missing for six months, and my emotions are all over the place,” said Kimberly Doucet, Keke’s aunt.
Elrick J. Gallow, 52, was booked with second-degree murder by Ville Platte Police at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Evangeline Parish jail records show. Doucet's family members confirmed for us that he was booked in connection with her disappearance.
“The main question is why. Why couldn’t you just leave her alone and move on? What was the reason?” asked Lekethia Griffith, Keke’s cousin.
While many questions remain unanswered, the arrest has provided a glimmer of hope and a sense of relief for the Doucet family.
“We’re grateful for any form of closure,” says Griffith. “This search has been long and exhausting, filled with sleepless nights and endless days of uncertainty.”
It remains unclear whether Gallow and Keke knew each other, but the investigation is ongoing.
The search began in June at Chief Romeo Hargrove City Park, where police believe Keke was last seen. Since then, her family has never stopped looking for her.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said Griffith. “We go to bed every night not knowing what happened, not knowing what she went through. We just want to bring her home.”
Doucet’s young daughter is currently staying with relatives, as the search for Keke continues.
“Finding her body, bringing her home, that’s all we’ve wanted for six months. We will come get her,” Griffith said.
Wednesday afternoon, Ville Platte Police issued a press release stating that the investigation began back in June, and Gallow was a person of interest at that time.
"Throughout the course of the investigation, with the assistance of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police, evidence was obtained that led to the application of an arrest warrant that was approved and signed by Judge Chuck West," the release states. "Chief Thomas thanks the EPSO, LSP, and, especially, VPPD’s Sergeant Darrian Guillory for her continued efforts in obtaining justice for KeKe. He hopes this will pave the way for her family to eventually get closure."
A family member told KATC the family had known he was a suspect for some time, but had to keep it quiet so that police had the time to do their job: "It was hard waiting, but there's nothing we could do," he said. "But they kept in touch with us, they kept us encouraged, they told us that they hadn't given up."
Gallow is the second person who has been booked in the investigation; police also booked 75-year-old Jerry Lee Verrette back in June. He was booked with a misdemeanor after police searched his home.
Click here to read KATC's coverage on Doucet's case.
And click here to read about the vigil held for her.
