By LEONARD GRAY

LAPLACE – A LaPlace man managed to survive a beating attack by a man with a baseball bat in his Thibodaux apartment Dec. 13 and made it to his graduation from Nicholls State University the following day.

However, another victim, a 27-year-old newspaper photographer with The Courier of Houma, Michael Kaire, died from an attack allegedly committed by Dustin Caldwell, 20, originally from Paris, Tenn.

Gerald Kleive II, 23, of 381 Carmel Valley Drive in LaPlace, said he was advised by authorities not to discuss details of his own attack, so as not to potentially damage the prosecution of Caldwell. However, according to the public information officer for the Thibodaux Police Department, Capt. Jerry Wyeth, Caldwell confessed to the attack on Kaire, and allegedly said he liked the experience of killing and was glad he was caught before he killed again.

Caldwell was charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly beating three of Kaire’s neighbors in the downtown apartment building, including Kleive; Brian Berry, 25, of Thibodaux; and Eric Prestus, 29, of Monroe.

Kleive was awaiting his commencement ceremony to receive his bachelor of arts degree from NSU in graphic design when the attack occurred early Friday morning.

In the attack, Kleive said he received a 3-inch cut on his forehead, a broken right forearm requiring a pin and a broken left cheekbone, which may require a titanium plate.

He also sustained “a little whiplash and a slight concussion” in the attack. He was treated for his injuries and released later Friday, along with fellow attack victim Prestus. Berry remained over the weekend at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.

According to a relative who asked not to be identified by name, Berry was released Monday and was due back today for facial surgery on his cheekbone. Berry also sustained a fractured skull, but did not require surgery for that.

Crime-scene technicians from the Thibodaux Police Department found Kleive’s cap and gown for his graduation the following day.

An extradition hearing was scheduled Dec. 17, in preparation for returning Caldwell to Thibodaux to face the charges against him.