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Opelousas, LA: It's been nearly four years since the murder of 66-year-old Joseph Vallien. This week, St. Landry Parish deputies made an arrest.
"I would say that this is bittersweet. Well, I will say that this is just the beginning because we have an arrest, but we do not know the details," said Crystal Andrus, Vallian's oldest daugther.
The case shocked the small community of Lawtell, putting everyone on edge and destroying a family.
Crystal Andrus and her brother, Joesph Vallian Jr, held hands as they reacted to the news regarding their father's murder.
"So this is maybe opening up a wound to where we are starting this process again," said Andrus.
Starting over again might be the case, but they say they are filled with gratitude that law enforcement is one step closer to finding their father's killer.
"We are very thankful, overwhelmed, and so thankful to the detectives who have broken some ground and finally put in the work to solve this. We just felt that this was not going anywhere," said Andrus.
Lester Ray Johnson Jr is being accused of the September 2020 slaying of Joseph Vallian. This week, St. Landry Parish Deputies booked the 31-year-old with first-degree murder. Authorities believe Johnson may have known about a safe in Vallian's home.
Detectives also found blood evidence in the house that allegedly matched Johnson. Detectives disproved his alibi and got a warrant for his arrest.
"I am not a spiteful person or like an evil person, but I do want justice," said Andrus.
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An Opelousas man has been booked with murder in connection with the 2020 slaying of a Lawtell man.
Lester Ray Johnson Jr., 31, was booked with first-degree murder.
He's accused of the September 2020 slaying of Joseph Vallian, 66, who was found bound and beaten to death in his Lawtell home. Detectives found a large safe was missing, along with cash, jewelry and other items.
Vallian had been bound with a leather belt, and died of blunt force trauma. Detectives also found blood evidence in the house that allegedly matched Johnson.
After they learned that Johnson, a friend of the family, knew of the safe and what was in it, detectives disproved his alibi and got a warrant for his arrest.
Johnson was arrested Friday at the St. Landry Parish jail, where he was being held on unrelated charges.
This case was solved by Crime Stoppers tips, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says.
“If not for the assistance from St. Landry Crime Stoppers with airing the footage in their Crime of the Week segments, the anonymous tips received as a result of those segments, and good old fashion boots on the ground investigation by law enforcement, this case might have never been solved,” Guidroz said.
