A Detroit woman is now at the center of a deadly Gretna crash case that trailed her all the way to the New Orleans airport. Melissa Sapp, 40, is facing manslaughter-related charges in the death of 83-year-old Joseph Burke, a Navy veteran and grandfather, after what authorities describe as a months-long investigation by Jefferson Parish deputies.
Deadly Gretna collision
Investigators with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office say the crash happened on the morning of Jan. 7, 2025, on LaPalco Boulevard. According to the sheriff's office, Sapp was driving a Nissan SUV westbound at high speed when she ran a red light at Wall Boulevard and slammed into Burke's pickup truck.
Both drivers were rushed to a hospital. Burke died nine days later, on Jan. 16, 2025, from injuries tied to the wreck. After reviewing the case over several months, deputies obtained an arrest warrant, as reported by The Times-Picayune.
Arrest at airport rental garage
Sapp was ultimately picked up on Dec. 13, 2025, in a chaotic scene at the New Orleans airport's rental-car facility, according to Kenner police. Officers say she climbed into the wrong vehicle in the rental-car garage and refused to get out.
"She proceeds to start the vehicle and drive off, running over the employee's right foot," Kenner Police Deputy Chief Mark McCormick told The Times-Picayune. Police say Sapp was stopped at the exit when a security strip with spikes disabled the vehicle.
During booking on the airport incident, deputies discovered the outstanding Jefferson Parish warrant tied to the Gretna crash. Sapp was then held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center, where her bail was set at $271,500.
Charges and current court track
The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office has charged Sapp with manslaughter in Burke's death, according to court records. Prosecutors also filed separate counts related to the Kenner episode, including reckless operation and resisting an officer.
Sapp has pleaded not guilty in the Kenner-related case and remains behind bars as both matters move through the parish court system, according to reporting compiled by Michelle Hunter.
What comes next
As of the latest filings, no trial dates have been set, and the sheriff's office says the investigation is still active. Burke's obituary notes that he served 27 years in the U.S. Navy as a master chief petty officer and was a grandfather of seven. Authorities say they will continue to review evidence and consider additional filings in the months ahead.
