Nearly two years after the death of a Lake Charles woman who was raped and fatally beaten in her Caroline Street home, Lake Charles Police have a suspect in custody.

Deputy Chief Kevin Kirkum said 28-year-old Lorenzo Jackson was arrested by SWAT members Wednesday morning in the 800 block of Fiegal Street in Sulphur. He has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree rape.

Jackson’s bond has been set at $4 million.

Lake Charles Police Chief Shawn Caldwell told the American Press in July of 2023 that 75-year-old Sherry Vincent had been found in her home severely beaten and she had been sexually assaulted. She was transported to a local hospital via ambulance before being transported to a Lafayette hospital for further treatment.

A week later, she died of her injuries.

In her obituary, family members described Vincent as “a warrior” who will be remembered “for her big heart, stubbornness, sense of humor and her beautiful blue-green eyes.”

A lifelong resident of Lake Charles, Vincent was a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was a graduate of LaGrange High School and had worked in the service agreement department at the Sears Warehouse before transitioning to the furniture department at the Sears retail store downtown. She would later work at American Office Machines and Walmart.

Kirkum said LCPD detectives — with the assistance of the Southwest Louisiana Crime Lab — were able to obtain enough evidence to
present to a district judge and obtain an arrest warrant for Jackson’s arrest.

He said the investigation is ongoing, Kirkum said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Lake Charles Police at 337- 491-1311 or anonymously leave a tip on the Lake Charles PD app.
Det. Sgt. George Miller is the lead investigator.