Murder suspect arrested after going to police department to file stolen vehicle report

LAKE CHARLES, La. [CBS7]

A Louisiana man suspected in a fatal homicide walked into police headquarters on Monday to report a vehicle theft, authorities said, leading directly to his arrest in connection with the slaying.

Lake Charles police said relatives of Jermaric Andrus, 27, first contacted them on July 7 to report that he had vanished. The investigation took a grim turn when detectives located Andrus' remains in an open field Sunday evening. Crime scene evidence indicated the death was a homicide.

The next day, 28-year-old Colby Ryan Parker presented himself at the Lake Charles Police Department to file a report about a stolen vehicle. Detectives already had Parker on their radar as someone whose interview could prove critical to the homicide investigation.

During questioning, Parker's statements and the evidence gathered at the scene prompted police to place him under arrest. He was transported to the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Facility and formally booked into custody.

Parker faces three charges stemming from the incident: second-degree murder, obstruction of justice and unlawful disposal of human remains. A judge set his bond at $1.2 million, according to jail records.

The case remains under investigation by Lake Charles police and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office.