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Every day, there are hundreds of cases across the architects that are still unsolved. Welcome to the very first edition of the KTBS3 podcast called the Archlettex Crime Files. I'm Jonathan McCall.
In this episode, we are going to take a look at one of the most notorious cases still remaining unsolved, and that is the murder of 17-year-old Shemiah Little. Uh joining me now to talk more about the case is Shreveport public sharport police public information officer, uh Corporal Chris Bordalon. Chris, thanks so much for uh joining us to talk a little bit about this case. We want to take a look at some of those cases that still remain unsolved to try to help you guys out to bring closure and justice for these victims and for the families. And thank you for doing that. That's something that we really respect from your agency of trying to keep these victims' names on the minds of of our citizens so that maybe we can get something new that helps us solve these cases.
It's nearly been four years since uh Shamaya was killed. January uh July 6th, 2021 here in Shreveport. uh nearly 4 years after uh her murder. Where does the case stand right now?
So, it still currently is an open investigation. However, I can say that we have not had a lot of new information generated in quite some time. Um, once the case kind of hit a stalemate, uh we did what we could to try to facilitate more information coming forward. We even partnered with some of our federal agencies and got up to a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in this case. And unfortunately, all of our leads just dried up.
How frustrating is that for you guys? Uh obviously, you guys know that there was something that happened with this young girl, 17 years old. Uh she was at the park, last seen July 6th of 2021. She then disappears. Her body isn't discovered for nearly a week, some six days later, uh just about a quarter of a mile from where she was last seen at uh Douglas Williams Park. uh you were on the scene that day. You were the one who had to make that uh that talk to the press about what you guys uh saw that day. If we can, can we play just a little bit of uh Chris's uh interview uh with the media that day when uh when uh Shamaya's body was found?
Crimebe police are investigating after a gruesome discovery in Shreveport's Country Club Hills neighborhood. A body was discovered in a field by a lawnmowing crew. This behind a business in the 4100 block of Curtis Lane between Greenwood Road and Interstate 20. The discovery yesterday afternoon comes nearly a week after a 17-year-old girl was reported missing in the same area. Now, police are being cautious not to confirm any identity until the coroner makes an official ID. But dozens of family members of Shamia Little were on the scene, many of them in tears. Chris, there's there obviously family members on the scene who are apparently in mourning. Have the police department had any conversations with family members at this point? Um, obviously that you know, there has been the ongoing missing uh girl. I do believe the police department has been in contact with them, but we have not made any confirmation to deny or confirm that it is in fact the missing. There's no nothing at this point to match that situation in this. Um, I I can't say that because I I obviously don't have that information. I know we're waiting on the coroner uh to determine make that final determination.
Now, Shamaya was reported missing last Tuesday. She was last seen at Douglas Williams Park. Family members that say that she and another young man were held at gunpoint. The young man got away, she did not. I want to show you how close that park is now to where that body was found. The park is just south of Interstate 20. It was found just across the interstate, no more than 200 yards away. Listen to this. Late last night, the missing child advisory for Shamia that had been in place since early last week was canceled. That of course is not a good sign. We'll bring you updates as soon as we get them.
That was our coverage of here at KTBS uh the day that um uh her body was found. Chris, what do you remember about that day?
Man, that that's one of those that really sticks with you. you know, that was a young girl, not not even an adult yet. Um, just a vibrant individual and to be there, you know, and unfortunately that was one of my first weeks as a public information officer for the police department. Um, and I look back at that time and what was going on and the information we had, man, it it was just a whirlwind because it's every parent's worst nightmare because for us in law enforcement, you know, we view things through the lens of being a police officer, but many of us, you know, we're all fathers and sisters and brothers and we have family members and to have a young girl like Shamaya go missing and then the information that we had, we knew it wasn't good from the very beginning. Um, and as the search went on that initial night and we were unable to locate her and then several days went by at that point in time, you know, you know, we're we're dealing with a very bad situation. And unfortunately and and just like that day, you know, it it was from what I remember at that point in time, it was it was kind of a warm afternoon when I was out there. Uh and the body when we located it had had already began decomposition decomposition uh because of warm days in Louisiana that it starts to happen pretty quickly. Um, so it man is just an awful awful set of circumstances and and still to this day those are those are the things that even the investigators and the officers that work these types of cases you know we may see violent crimes and violent offenses but it always sticks with you a little more when you know it's it's a young person.
Yeah. It has to be tough you as a father. Yes. Yourself uh having to deliver that news to a parent that their child, a young child, um is now gone. And I, you know, I speak from my own personal experience of having to watch uh my parents do this with my sister after she passed despite, you know, it not being violent, but any type of death involving a child where a parent has to bury a child, it it's awful. And you know that in that situation we we knew with the proximity of where the body was located, but you hold on to hope that you know maybe it's not her, but at the end of the day when you're dealing with another it's another deceased person. Uh and and you know it really is it's just a sickening uh set of events that you know in many cases you wish you could forget.
17 years old she's you she's found. You mentioned the fact that you guys did you have any leads from the beginning? Were there any signs of, you know, a starting point of where you were able to begin? And, you know, just how have you guys been able to navigate, uh, you know, still searching for that killer nearly four years later?
Well, and I mean, the initial information that we had, we, you know, going back to, we knew she was in the park. we knew there was another male there with her in the park and that is when uh was reported initially as like an abduction. Another individual showed up with a firearm um allowing for the other male to then get away and notify police. Um, so we knew the situation was urgent to begin with and right from the jump, we called in all the people we had available. Louisiana State Police showed up and they helped. They searched with a helicopter. And you know, it really is when we look back and and we look at the area we canvassed and then to see how close we were to finding where her initial or where her final resting place was that day. Um, it it's one of those situations where you're like, man, if we had just gone a little further, is there anything we could have possibly done? Um, it really make it it really sticks with you for a long time. Um, obviously this is a case that Shreveport Police is still looking to solve. Um, what resources or what information do you need from the public? Uh, because obviously there's someone out there who murdered this young woman. U, in many of these instances, people talk, they say something. and uh you know, what do you guys need from the public in helping to solve uh Shamaya's case?
Well, we could there's several ways in which they could help. Giving information that they know going into that night or after that night could help. They may have information of what was going to determine if it was going to be a robbery or why the person was there with a firearm. We do know a firearm was was ultimately used in the killing of Shemiah Little. We've never recovered that weapon. Um, so if someone has an idea where that weapon is. Uh, there were lots of theories that went along after the events because you know obviously there was an individual that got away and notified police of the abduction. You know at one point in time there was a large portion of the population that felt that he was a suspect. Um, and we were able to kind of get to a point where we could not determine that he was a suspect in that case. So, at which time, you know, trying to find what other individuals in the area could have been involved and and we've gone through a pretty extensive suspect list and just ultimately trying to get the evidence needed to take that case.
The trial just hasn't happened. Do you have a idea or do you have particular people in mind or that someone you mentioned the fact you've gone through a list. Is there someone that you believe that you've been able to identify but you just have not been able to put that information together?
Not to the point where we could get ever get an arrest warrant. Um, so when it came down to suspect list, you know, the detectives that worked this case, they worked it non-stop for several weeks straight. Um, we did get some information came in. Unfortunately, we got down to two or three potential suspects and were never able to turn the corner into determining that they were responsible. Um, and in some of these cases, you know, you have other individuals that wind up going to jail for other offenses. And so we had hopes that maybe if they went to jail for a similar type of offense, we could make the case on the back end. Um, and in those situations, it just hasn't happened.
Yeah. For your detectives, uh I know that you mentioned the fact that obviously they work these cases. Uh they try to turn over every leaf. They try to do everything that they can uh to try to bring them uh bring some closure, some justice to the families and uh the victims. How tough is it for them to be close on a particular case? How, you know, difficult is it for them to see this? They have this puzzle. They put it together. They know that they have the right pieces, but they just aren't able to put it all together.
Well, I I can tell you many of our detectives um that that haunts them. you know, they they may know who did a particular crime and not specifically this one, but you know, some of our homicide detectives, they have a very good idea who the suspect is in these cases, but being able to prove it in court is a whole different set of circumstances. Um, you know, that when you look around our investigations office, you have some of the most seasoned uh investigators you you'll ever find. Many of these guys have worked all different types of crime. They've been in homicide investigations for over a decade. Uh, and they have experience that is unlike anywhere else. And to hear some of their stories and some of the burdens that they carry because each one of those these investigators, they work these violent crimes cases as if it was a member of their family because that's what we would want as law enforcement. We want to treat our victims and their families how we would want someone to treat our family. And you know, that's what we try to do in those situations. And for them to go through this case and for us to just not be able to resolve it and be to a point where, man, you know, we we have a crime scene, we we have a witness account and to just never be able to solve the case. Um, it's really unfortunate and and and now here we are four years later. Um, we have technology now within our city that had it been in place then, we would have solved this case.
Are you you're confident of that?
I'm 100% confident. You know, with the implementation of what we're able to do now with some of our cell phone forensics as well as our real-time crime center, you know, we already have over 2100 cameras throughout our city that weren't there at that time. And just imagining if we had just one shot, one picture of the suspect in this case, what we would have been able to do.
Wow. Is that troubling to think about for not only you, but for the rest of the detectives as well?
Absolutely. I mean, there's just so many you it's could a would a should have but when you think it the number of cases we're able to solve now solve now because of technology and then go back over the number of cases that are unsolved that we know that someone took this person's life stole their life. There is a still a murderer out there that has not been held accountable for their actions. Man, it eats away at you.
Yeah. Uh, real quick, we want to take a look at our coverage here at KTBS of the day that the Caddo Parish Coroner's office actually identified uh, Shemiah Little's body.
The search for a missing teenager has ended. The Caddo Parish Coroner confirmed that a body found yesterday is 17-year-old Shamaya Little. Little was reported missing exactly one week ago tonight. A teenage boy told police he was with her at the Doug Williams Park in Shreveport when they were confronted by a man with a gun. An autopsy has been ordered to determine how she died. Her death is the 50th homicide in Caddo Parish this year.
And obviously Shamaya was shot and killed uh according to uh that autopsy report. Have you guys been able to keep in contact with her family? Uh, I know it's tough and I know a number of years have passed. Uh, have you guys been able to have any type of contact with them? Just I'm I'm sure they have questions about this investigation as any uh parent would have about seeking justice uh for their child at all.
Well, we do occasionally uh throughout the year, we will go back through unsolved homicide cases. you know, unfortunately and and I can that year 2021, you heard her say that was our 50th. I believe we were went on to have a record-breaking year in homicides that year and ended in the '90s. Um, so unfortunately sometimes the investigators may not reach out to the family as often as we should. Um, we do always encourage the families if they need information or if they need to talk to one of our investigators to reach out to our investigators. And typically, we have a very good relationship with our victim's families.
Yeah. Uh, Chris, obviously this is the very first episode of the Archlettex Crime Files. We appreciate you being here. Uh, cold cases, unsolved cases. Uh, there are plenty of them that you guys have. What is your advice to just the public who will be watching this thinking, I may know something about not this case or maybe this case or maybe even other cases that you guys may be looking to solve?
Well, especially as time goes by, um, if they're willing to come forward and give that information, you know, there's individuals that have committed heinous crimes, um, that may have confessed to it on their deathbed or possibly told it to a relative and they have since passed away or or something of that matter. You know, there's several unsolved homicides from the 80s and 90s. We would love to be able to close those cases and bring those victims' families some type of closure. You know, uh, unfortunately, I I've I've had to speak to some of our victims' families of violent crimes in our city, and that is a wound that never really heals, but nothing is worse for them than not knowing what happened. Uh, and and if we can answer some of those questions, give them just that little bit of closure, uh, that's ultimately what we want to do. And, and that's why we we think this is a great idea for this for this show. And, and anything that we can do as a police department to cooperate, we're going to do it.
Yeah. Uh, and again, if you have information that could help out, uh, Shreveport Police, call them or Caddo Parish Crimes Stoppers.
Absolutely. As well, we'll definitely uh take all of your information.
In the case of Shamaya Little, you mentioned the fact the FBI has offered a $50,000 reward. Huge. I've I've never, you know, I've been in law enforcement for 15 years. Uh, I've never seen a reward that high. And that speaks to how shocking this was to our community um to that we were able to get that much support to try to bring this violent criminal to justice. And unfortunately, we weren't able to do it. We failed.
Yeah. Chris Bordalon, thank you for joining us on the very first episode of the Archlettex Crime Files. We definitely hope that you will be back. You have a standing invitation to come back anytime you'd like. I know that there are plenty of cases that you guys would like to get solved and we definitely want to help with the with the support of our viewers as well and helping you guys get some of those cases solved.
Absolutely. Thank you.
Thank you and thank you for joining us for the very first episode of the Archlettex Crime Files. I'm Jonathan McCall.
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