In the early morning hours of December 7, 2022, joggers in Metairie, Louisiana, found the body of 42-year-old New Orleans resident Charlene Jarreau on the side of Ivy Street near Little Farms Avenue. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office determined she had been shot in the neck and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives say relatives told them Jarreau had recently ended an abusive romantic relationship with 42-year-old Jakita Johnson. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses captured Jarreau’s final hours, showing what a detective described as a cat-and-mouse sequence in which Jarreau tried at least twice to get away from Johnson’s Chevrolet Tahoe. The videos reportedly show Jarreau being roughed up, bitten on the face, and struck by the SUV; around 1:14 a.m. footage shows her trying to hide behind a closed business before Johnson allegedly forced her back. Her body was found about a block away roughly five hours later.

Authorities arrested Johnson a day after Jarreau was found, booking her on first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping, and obstruction of justice. A second person, Patna Carter, was also arrested but prosecutors later refused all charges against Carter. The case against Johnson remained pending in court as of December 2022.

If anyone knew Charlene Jarreau, saw her that night, or has information about what happened, please come forward.