The family of a St. Landry Parish man who allegedly drove his car into a bayou is seeking answers.
According to investigators, Adrian Ford’s body was not in the car when the car was pulled out of the water.
Ford’s girlfriend told deputies she escaped through the sunroof but didn’t see him get out.
Theyfound his body nearly a week later 20 miles down the bayou near Port Barre.
You can read more in our previous story here.
St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s spokesman Eddie Thibodeaux tells KATC’s Dannielle Garcia they are investigating this case, like they always do when there is a suspicious death, as a homicide, until they find evidence pointing otherwise.
Now, a week later, Ford’s family is still wondering what led up to his death.
“It just breaks your heart. Nobody deserves that,” said Gwendolyn Brady, Ford’s sister, through tears.
For a week, the 37-year-old was missing.
Although his body has since been recovered, his sister and her family still have questions.
“You don’t know what to think, and the pieces that I did get didn’t fit, didn’t fit at all,” said Brady. “It’s as murky as the water that car went into. It’s that murky. There’s nothing that adds up to me.”
Being in law enforcement for more than 20 years out in San Francisco, Brady said she deals with bad situations daily. But, she said nothing could have prepared her for this situation that hit so close to home. A phone call that changed her life.
“I can’t explain it because the not knowing part, that was the part that just made you cringe. And at that point, I just dropped… Like, what is going on? Then worrying, ‘Where is he? Is he hurt? Does he need help? Is he injured or afraid? Is he injured and needs help?’ It’s just a lot,” she said.
Days later, another call came in. Deputies found Ford’s body.
“As heart breaking as it is, it was kind of a relief,” she said, taking a moment to collect her thoughts through tears. “Because at least we can bring him home.”
A painful closure, yet their family still remains with so many questions. Now, they’re pleading for information.
“I’m hoping that if there is something that law enforcement needs to know, people will come forward. He has a 13-year-old son who doesn’t have any of these answers. He has a mother who depended on him who doesn’t have any answers, so if there’s anybody out there that knows anything, not rumors, not gossip but facts, I’m praying that they’ll come forward.”
If you do have any information, you can call St. Landry Parish Crime Stoppers at (337) 948-8477.
Ford’s family is holding a memorial service this Saturday at Williams Funeral Home in Opelousas starting at 11 a.m.
