Jeudi

Sandra Peters Jefferson

Archie Jefferson was arrested on a minor charge Sunday, but that didn't help police question him about his wife's murder. According to New Orleans police, detectives set out on Sunday to question the younger brother of recently incarcerated former Congressman Bill Jefferson, but he refused to go to the police station. So detectives checked if he had any outstanding warrants. They found that he had an outstanding traffic attachment in Gretna, and went to arrest him. But, upon his arrest, Jefferson once again eluded questioning.

As is common protocol, police asked Jefferson if he had any medical issues, and he said he did. Police then brought him to the hospital and turned him over to medical staff, which a spokeswoman said is common police practice for people arrested on minor charges.

Police indicated they still want to speak with Jefferson about the beating death of Sandra Peters Jefferson. The 58-year-old died Saturday morning as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, the Orleans Parish Coroner said.

According to police reports, Archie Jefferson found his wife lying in a pool of blood in the couple's Broadmoor home at about 3 a.m. Friday morning, and called 9-1-1. The incident was initially labeled a shooting, but medical staff later found no evidence of a gunshot wound.

On Friday, NOPD Chief Ronal Serpas said Archie Jefferson was questioned by detectives at the scene.