Girlfriend of man found dead on Huey P. Long Bridge arrested, deputies say

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Coshelia Conley, 36, has been charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in connection to the death of 41-year-old Gerard Nicholas Richard. His body was discovered on the Huey P. Long Bridge on Thursday, Feb. 13.

According to arrest documents, Richard’s body was found “mangled up,” with his wrists bound by rope and tape. Investigators recovered a bloody blanket and a weighted kettlebell at the scene. Authorities believe Richard was wrapped in the blanket before being struck by multiple vehicles.

Detectives also noted blood smears on the bridge railing, suggesting an attempt was made to throw his remains off the bridge.

A witness reported seeing two vehicles stopped on the bridge—one described as a dark gray Chevrolet Tahoe—before they quickly drove away. The witness then saw Richard’s body lying in the roadway.

Further investigation led detectives to East Feliciana Parish, where a dark gray Tahoe was found burned. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered a charred kettlebell similar to the one found near Richard’s body.

Conley, identified by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office as Richard’s girlfriend, told detectives she last saw him hours before his body was discovered. She stated he had left her home in Baker driving her 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe.

Surveillance footage captured the Tahoe heading toward East Feliciana Parish approximately an hour and a half after Richard was found on the bridge. A 2011 GMC 1500—later confirmed to be registered to Conley—was seen following closely behind.

EBRSO said when detectives later met with Conley, she was driving the GMC truck, which had a gas can in the truck bed.

Authorities searching Conley’s residence observed a trail of what appeared to be blood leading from the parking lot to her apartment. A forensic search using a chemical solution revealed positive results for blood in multiple areas, suggesting an attempt had been made to clean the scene.

Surveillance footage also captured Conley and others removing a trash bag believed to contain bloodied clothing, allegedly used to clean up the crime scene before and after Richard’s remains were discovered.

Initially, Conley denied any involvement in Richard’s death. Arrest documents said she repeatedly changed her account of where she had been before, during, and after the incident.

A search of her truck revealed a plastic bag containing bleach-scented towels, and blood was found on the tailgate, according to EBRSO.

Conley was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

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