ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / July 1, 2000

LAPLACE – A group of cab drivers has increased the reward by $500 to anyone who can help solve the killing of LaPlace resident Janice Fugate, whose body was found in her Cambridge subdivision home on April 28.

The cab drivers collected the money and presented it to the Crimestoppers organization Tuesday. This brings the total reward up to $1,500.Capt. Mike Tregre of the St. John Sheriff’s Office said, “Fugate was verywell liked by her fellow cab drivers.”Fugate, 61, was the victim of two other crimes before she was killed. InOctober her purse was snatched from her while she was getting out of her car in her driveway. A week before she was killed her house wasburglarized.

The killer or killers also broke into Fugate’s home the day she was killed.

They stole her car and left it abandoned by the canal at the end of Woodland Drive. From all the known evidence, police are working on thetheory that the perpetrator may have lived in the area.

“We know that somebody in the neighborhood knows something,” said Tregre. “However, they may be too scared to come forward.”Despite some frustration with the case, Tregre said the investigation is progressing.

“We are making progress,” said Tregre. “We have some suspects in mind.”Anyone with any information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111 or (877)903-7867. The caller does not have to leave his name, and if theinformation leads to the arrest and conviction of Fugate’s killer the caller will get the $1,500 reward.

Also citizens can call Detective Sgt. Felix Joseph of the St. John ParishSheriff’s Office at 652-2773.

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