ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / October 21, 2000

EDGARD – Accused serial killer Daniel Blank has been sentenced to die by lethal injection for the 1997 murder of LaPlace resident Joan Brock.

Wednesday, 40th District Judge Sterling Snowdy handed down the sentence, saying that Blank had caused irreparable damage to the Brock family, the local community and the state.

This is the second death sentence for Blank. Last year, he was sentenced todie for the murder of Gonzalez resident Lillian Phillipe, 71, who was stabbed and beaten to death in her home.

In April, a jury made up of Avoyelles Parish residents took less than 30 minutes to sentence Blank to death for the death of Brock. The week-longtrial was highlighted by a videotaped confession by Blank in which he broke down and cried in front of St. John Parish detectives as he told them how hestabbed Brock to death.

Both death sentences carry an automatic appeal and Blank’s lawyers say that the appeals process could take more than a decade to complete.

Right now, Blank is due to go on trial in February in St. James Parish for thedeath of Barbara Bourgeois, 58, of Paulina. He has been charged withsecond-degree murder by St. James District Attorney Tom Kliebert Jr., whoplans to seek a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, probation or suspended sentence.

After that, Blank still has to face murder charges for the deaths of Victor Rossi, 41, of St. Amant, and Sam and Louella Arcuri, 76 and 69, of LaPlace.

Return To News Stories