Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish are on the hunt for a 31-year-old Ponchatoula man they say bit off part of a woman's face after holding her against her will for several days. Investigators allege the confrontation started over the weekend and escalated into a brutal attack on Tuesday when the woman tried to get away. She remains in the hospital, where officials say she is being treated for extensive injuries. The suspect, Brandon Patrick, is facing charges of domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury and false imprisonment.
According to WAFB, Tangipahoa Parish deputies said the dispute began over the weekend and erupted into violence on Tuesday as the victim tried to escape. Deputies told reporters the woman had been held against her will for several days and remains hospitalized while receiving care for her injuries. The sheriff's office added that the investigation is still active and that more charges could be filed as the case develops.
Deputies identified the suspect as 31-year-old Brandon Patrick, a convicted felon with known local gang ties, according to WBRZ. Investigators said Patrick is an identical twin and can be picked out by his tattoos: a half-sleeve on his left arm featuring a house and scroll and a full sleeve on his right arm, along with an old stab wound on his right hand. Deputies warned the public that Patrick should be considered dangerous while the search continues.
Deputies Seek Tips, Warn Public
Anyone with information about Patrick's whereabouts is urged to contact the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Office at 985-902-2088 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa at 1-800-554-5245, according to WAFB. Deputies told local outlets that Patrick does not have a vehicle and may try to flag down or solicit rides from strangers, and they urged anyone who spots him to avoid contact and call law enforcement instead, per WBRZ.
Charges And Investigation
Patrick is wanted on counts of domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury and false imprisonment, and investigators said additional charges could follow as the probe continues, according to WDSU. The sheriff's bulletin with his description was shared in a Facebook post by WVUE | FOX 8, which included the physical details deputies released to the public. Authorities have not identified the victim, citing the active investigation and her medical condition.
Legal Context
Under Louisiana law, domestic abuse battery that results in serious bodily injury is a felony offense with specific penalties outlined in state statute, while false imprisonment is defined separately and also carries criminal penalties, according to the Louisiana Revised Statutes. See LA RS 14:35.3 and LA RS 14:46 for the statutes that define these crimes and set the possible punishments.
