A June overdose death at a Gretna motel has now turned into a homicide case, with two men arrested Monday in connection with the loss of both a 29‑week pregnant woman and her unborn child. Investigators have identified the victim as Jordan Delapp and say she died after what they believe was a drug overdose inside the Oasis Motel.
Arrests and charges
Court listings show Greg J. Trahan and Ricky J. Ripp were arrested July 27 and booked on felony counts including second‑degree murder, second‑degree feticide and distribution of fentanyl. The jail database also lists $400,000 bonds on the murder counts and $100,000 bonds tied to the fentanyl and feticide charges, along with other municipal attachments, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Toxicology and allegations
Toxicology results show Delapp's death was an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, and investigators say the pregnancy was lost. Police allege Ripp obtained methamphetamine and provided drugs to Delapp and at times injected her. Officials also say a 2‑year‑old child was in the motel room but was not hurt and was later released to relatives, as reported by WDSU.
Legal context
Prosecutors have charged the pair under statutes that treat the death of a viable fetus as its own offense. Louisiana's second‑degree feticide statute can carry up to 10 years at hard labor, while murder charges carry far stiffer penalties, according to the Louisiana Legislature. The addition of fentanyl‑distribution counts reflects a broader prosecutorial strategy in overdose deaths, where alleged suppliers are charged alongside homicide or feticide allegations.
Next steps
Records show both men remain in custody on the bonds listed in the parish jail system, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The district attorney's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and both suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
