Updated November 16, 2023 - Recent information from the WhoKilledDonna.com tipline sheds light on why Sheriff Seal's private investigator was seen wearing a badge during the November 9 meeting with Donna's family member. Sheriff Seal officially deputized Irvin Magri Jr. in April 2023, with Chief Deputy Brent Jones administering the oath of office. It seems Mr. Magri was fully commissioned as a Deputy Sheriff rather than receiving an honorary badge typically reserved for quietly bestowing upon friends or influential figures. The purpose behind Mr. Magri's commission and his involvement in other cases remains unclear. See the court filing below.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2023
Bogalusa, LA
On November 9, 2023, in a move that raises questions about his department’s investigative motivations and timing, Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal quietly brought in a private investigator to look at the unsolved murder of Donna Smith Arceneaux, granting access to the case file and authorizing an interview with a member of the victim’s family. The meeting occurred in Randy Seal’s personal office within his department’s Bogalusa location. This is particularly concerning given that the Louisiana State Police have had jurisdiction over the case since 2019, not the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO). This unusual and potentially obstructive action took place the same day WWL-TV's much-anticipated coverage of the Donna Arceneaux investigation was to air.
The new investigator contacted the family member on the morning of November 9, who hesitantly attended the last-minute meeting at 2:00 PM the same day, hoping for new developments. According to the family member, the encounter ended prematurely when the investigator became belligerent and aggressive, slamming Donna Arceneaux's case file on the desk and demanding that the family member “take a seat.” The decision to interrogate this specific grieving family member, who had never been contacted by investigators previously, came just days after the family member's public criticism of Randy Seal's department at a campaign event.
This confrontation has added to the family's growing unease surrounding the investigation and has reportedly sparked internal embarrassment among rank-and-file employees of WPSO. Interestingly, as noted by a source within the department, this all comes on the heels of a notice from the Louisiana Board of Ethics stating their office has received multiple alleged violations against WPSO.
"I spoke to several people on the case. I was given the green light," says Irv Magri, the individual who identified himself as “a new detective on the case” to Donna's family. “I was well on my way to making some real headway, and I really just needed [the family member] to be cooperative with me," he lamented. Mr. Magri, who exuberantly highlighted his achievements as State President of Crime Fighters of Louisiana and a crime radio show host, was asked to confirm if Sheriff Randy Seal had commissioned his services on the case. Clearly frazzled, Mr. Magri stated, "Not anymore. I was just cut off completely. And listen, what you could do is call the Sheriff and let him know everything is A-OK. That would be nice. That would be very nice."
Mr. Magri received several frantic calls immediately after his failed meeting on November 9th. Sheriff Randy Seal and others at the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office ordered him to cease all investigative activities within minutes of learning Magri’s kick-off meeting had gone south. It’s unclear what Sheriff Seal’s plans were for putting a private investigator on a case his department is no longer in control of, but one insider close to the case revealed, “This was a PR stunt gone terribly wrong at the expense of the family and the state police's case.” Notably, Irv Magri’s Crime Fighters of Louisiana publicly endorsed Randy Seal's re-election campaign just a few weeks earlier.
Subsequent conversations revealed that Sheriff Randy Seal and high-level administrative staff are alleged to have "told" not "asked" WPSO investigators to give Mr. Magri and his assistant the Arceneaux case file, against the recommendation of WPSO’s chief investigator. Magri and his assistant confirmed access to the case file.
Sheriff Randy Seal nor his chief deputy could be reached for comment. Multiple calls were also made to the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office's main line, which repeatedly played an after-hours message during regular business hours.
Louisiana State Police confirmed they had no role in the events of November 9th and were not made aware of this shadow investigation.
WhoKilledDonna.com is leading an independent documentary investigation into the unsolved murder of Donna Arceneaux. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Louisiana State Police. Tips may also be submitted at WhoKilledDonna.com, Who Killed Donna Arceneaux? on Facebook, or by calling 985-322-8820.
Sheriff Seal Appoints Irv Magri Jr. Deputy Sheriff in Washington Parish
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