A Jefferson Parish jury took less than an hour this past Wednesday to unanimously convict William Frye, of the Shrewsbury neighborhood in Jefferson, on charges of bank robbery, carjacking, and second-degree kidnapping. The incident unfolded at approximately 1:15 p.m. on November 30, 2022, when Frye, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and armed with a white pillowcase, burst into a Jefferson Highway bank, threatening violence and demanding cash from the startled tellers, according to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office.
The robbery quickly escalated to a carjacking as Frye later abruptly commandeered a vehicle from a family member who had left the engine running. In a desperate bid to escape, a teenage girl jumped from the car, sustaining a pelvis fracture. Court records indicated that law enforcement officers were to quickly gather information pointing to Frye as the prime suspect in this brazen daytime heist.
Frye's capture occurred near a motel in the 5700 block of Airline Drive after a tactical surveillance operation by detectives and FBI agents. When approached by officers, Frye attempted to flee on foot but was arrested shortly thereafter. Detectives discovered cash directly linked to the bank robbery in his possession, and more was found hidden in his motel room—a white pillowcase mysteriously missing from the set.
The Sheriff's Office Crime Lab was subsequently able to match Frye's DNA with evidence collected from the stolen vehicle's steering wheel and a glove discarded near the crime scene. In addition to this evidence, the teen victim, from her hospital bed, confirmed Frye's identity upon seeing his booking mugshot in an online news report.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, Frye denied all allegations of his involvement in the crimes. His defense argued for a case of mistaken identity, claiming the Sheriff's Office had the wrong man. The jury, however, was not swayed by the defense's arguments and returned with a guilty verdict after a mere 49 minutes of deliberation. Frye now awaits sentencing for his involvement in these felonious activities that left a trail of trauma in their wake.
