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Robert Allen West, Jr (2018)

Robert West Jr cold case homicideRobert Allen ‘Papi’ West Jr, 13, and Daytra Miller, 42, were shot to death inside their Independence, Louisiana home. The double homicide of mother and son occurred 12/23/18.1

Robert, often called Allen, was a 7th grade honors student at Tangi Academy, a charter school in Hammond. He was a mentor for younger children, a football and basketball player, and gave the best hugs.2 He was the youngest of six children.3

Robert is remembered as “…a kind, gentle, helpful, and caring young man who always put others before himself…he loved fishing because his grandfather taught him…”4 “…very kind super polite & smart. He was very supportive of his big sister.”5

Tacarlra Oliver especially misses her brother Papi’s giant bear hugs.6

Crime Scene

crime sceneThe double homicide of Robert and Daytra occurred inside the home they shared near Fontana Road and Labruzza Lane.

Oliver received a desperate call from her sister asking she “Get here, help me, help me…save us.” Her sister was inside the house when the shooting occurred, but hid in the bathroom with their nephew. The sister “…heard gunshots, multiple gunshots, and when they stopped she called police and she called me.”6

West believes Robert and Daytra were fatally shot as they were putting items in the car.7 He says “investigators are still waiting on the final pieces of evidence to be analyzed by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab before they release information on a possible person of interest in the shooting. TPSO originally reported they believe the person who committed the ‘heinous crime’ knew the victims, but have since been tight-lipped about information related to the case as not to jeopardize the investigation.”3

Family’s Desperate Plea

Robert WestEvery morning getting up, shaking his [Robert] hand and hugging him. I never missed a day of hugging him. The past year has been the most difficult…learning to move on with a piece missing…I saw them bring my son out in a body bag. I cleaned his blood up the next day. You don’t know pain until you clean up your 13-year-old son’s blood…”8

His father pleads, “If you have any information about my son. If you have any information about anything that’s happened to him. And if you know anybody, if you think of anybody, if you even remotely think about this situation, please contact any authorities.9

He asks the community to watch and listen for information that could help investigators. “I want justice for Daytra and I want justice for Robert Allen …my daughters need it.” Allen’s sisters are scared and often with West, the only person they’ve ever called Daddy.7

Tacarlra says “…it’s hard not having answers about what happened that night… Just speak. Tell what you know. I wouldn’t do that to my worst enemy. If I knew something, then I would tell it.”10

Have Information?

Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office is working to solve the Robert Allen West Jr case and bring his killer(s) to justice. A reward of $12,500 is offered.11 If you have information about this crime, please call (985) 345-6150.

Please submit corrections/updates here.

Submit corrections/updates here.

Sources:
  1. Greater Baton Rouge Crime Stoppers, accessed 09/10/20. [↩]
  2. The Advocate: Investigators fielding tips in Tangipahoa double killing, school offering grief counseling, published 12/26/18. [↩]
  3. WAFB Channel 9: Slain teen’s father pleads for killer to confess to Tangipahoa Parish double homicide, aired 12/27/18. [↩][↩]
  4. Fox Channel 8, Local First: Woman, son found slain in La. home; reward now raised to $10k, aired 12/24/18. [↩]
  5. GoFundMe: Bradley McDonald comment, accessed 10/21/20. [↩]
  6. WAFB Channel 9: Nothing is the same anymore: Case of Independence double murder still haunts family one year later, aired 01/07/20. [↩][↩]
  7. WBRZ Channel 2: Father of 13-year-old killed in double murder recalls son’s zeal for life, aired 12/26/18. [↩][↩]
  8. WDSU News Channel 6: Family of Tangipahoa mother, son killed seeking justice while killer remains on loose, aired 12/09/20. [↩]
  9. WWL Channel 4: Father mourns the loss of son and mother killed in Tangipahoa Parish home, aired 12/26/18. [↩]
  10. WAFB Channel 9: Nothing is the same anymore: Case of Independence double murder still haunts family one year later, aired 01/07/20. [↩]
  11. WLBT Channel 3, On Your Side: Unsolved double homicide haunts small Louisiana town a year later; $12,500 reward offered, published 11/24/19. [↩]

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