By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

LIVINGSTON – Livingston Parish Sheriff’s detectives are investigating an unusual murder case involving a group of three men.

Chrisallen David Hunt, 31, of 17080 Rachel Dr., Livingston, La. recently confessed to the murder of Nelson Hinson Jr., 33, who allegedly killed Mario Canessa.

Hunt claimed he helped Hinson submerge Canessa’s body near I-55 in Ruddock, and later killed Hinson and dumped his corpse in the same spot, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The sequence of events began when Mario Canessa, 24, of Continental Drive in Kenner, La., was reported missing by family members on Dec. 30, 2006.

Hunt claims that Hinson strangled Canessa in the parking lot of Manny’s Bar in Maurepas, La. and both men dumped his body near I-55 in Ruddock. Livingston police could not confirm what led to Canessa’s murder or the exact time of the incident, but the event appears to have occurred about the time he was reported missing, on Dec. 30.

Hunt claims that weeks later, on Jan. 19, he and Hinson were together in the Bayview Lounge in Livingston, where Hunt gave Hinson Alprazolam, a narcotic similar to Xanax used to combat anxiety. The drug is known to enhance the effects of alcohol.

Sheriff Wayne Jones of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office said that Hinson became nervous and thought the two men should report the murder to the police. His worry started an argument between the two men which erupted into a fight. During the brawl Hunt severely injured Hinson when he shoved him on top of several cypress tree knees.

Hunt told police he drove Hinson to the same location where the two men had dumped Canessa’s and said in a statement that he “ Hinson was injured, so I pushed him into the water, face down, and watched as his body floated away and sank.”

The Livingston’s Sheriff’s Office arrested Hunt six days later for distribution of controlled substances, after an investigation showed that Hunt had supplied Hinson with Alprazolam.

He confessed to all the events related to the murders while in custody, officials reported.

On the night of Hunt’s arrest a motorist spotted Canessa’s decomposed body floating in the water under the southbound side of Interstate 55 near milepost six. St. John Sheriff’s officials reported the incident to the Livingston Sheriff’s Office, but an autopsy revealed the body to be that of Canessa and not of Hinson.

The Livingston Sheriff’s Office began an extensive search for Hinson’s body near Ruddock, using a diver, dragging the area for the body and conducted an aerial search by the LPSO Aviation Division and volunteers in other aircraft. After the search turned up nothing, detectives questioned Hunt further and discovered Hunt had not in fact dumped Hinson’s body at the same location as Canessa’s, but instead chosen a spot on I-55 closer to the bar in Livingston Parish. A police search did not reveal a body in that area.

On Feb. 11, a fisherman discovered Hinson’s body floating in Coydell Bay, south of Port Vincent, La., in Livingston Parish, about one-quarter mile from where Hunt said he’d submerged Hinson’s body.

Hunt was booked with a $250,000 bond for second degree murder, accessory to second degree murder and distribution of controlled substances. The bond amount may change relative to the charge of second degree murder.

Livingston police are continuing to investigate the bizarre case. Police do not yet have motives for any of the killings.