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Bordelon abducts and sexually assaults teen
Gerald Bordelon offers a ride to a Baton Rouge woman, who he takes to a residence and forces to perform oral sex on him twice. He then takes her home. He later is convicted of sexual battery and sentenced to 10 years in prison. It is the second time in three years Bordelon is accused of a sex crime. In 1979, Bordelon, then 17, was committed to a psychiatric hospital instead of jail after abducting and raping an 18-year-old girl.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Bordelon abducts and sexually assaults third woman
Gerald Bordelon abducts a 22-year-old East Baton Rouge Parish woman. He takes her to an abandoned building and rapes her. Bordelon later is convicted of forcible rape and two counts of crime against nature and is sentenced to 20 years in prison for the rape charge and 10 years to run concurrently for the other charges.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Bordelon paroled
Gerald Bordelon is released from prison on parole.
Source: La. Department of Public Safety and Corrections. -
Bordelon nearly dies from electrical accident
While making repairs to his wife's trailer, Gerald Bordelon is electrocuted. Courtney LeBlanc, his stepdaughter, is nearby and is credited with calling 911 and helping save his life.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Courtney LeBlanc disappears
Courtney LeBlanc, 12, disappears from the Denham Springs, La. area trailer she shares with her mother Jennifer Kocke and a younger sister. Police later discover Courtney was abducted at knife point by her stepfather, Gerald Bordelon, 40.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Fisherman finds knife near Amite River
A fisherman finds a large knife with a green handle near the banks of the Amite River west of Denham Springs, La. The knife later is identified by Jennifer Kocke as one from her kitchen. Prosecutors contend the knife was used by Gerald Bordelon during the abduction, rape and killing of Kocke's daughter, Courtney LeBlanc. The knife was found about 15 feet away from location where Courtney's body was found but the fisherman did not see her.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Body of Courtney LeBlanc found
The partially nude body of Courtney LeBlanc is found in underbrush in a wooded area near the Amite River west of Denham Springs, La. after her stepfather, Gerald Bordelon, leads police to the site. A coroner report later concludes the 12-year-old was strangled to death. Bordelon confesses to abducting, sexually assaulting and killing Courtney.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Grand jury indicts Bordelon for first-degree murder
A Livingston Parish grand jury indicts Gerald Bordelon for the November 2002 killing of 12-year-old Courtney LeBlanc.
Source: La. Supreme Court -
Bordelon starts fire in jail
Upset because Livingston Parish jail authorities had not transferred him to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, Bordelon sets a fire in his jail cell.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Jury finds Bordelon guilty
After deliberating 54 minutes, a Livingston Parish jury finds Gerald Bordelon guilty of the first-degree murder of Courtney LeBlanc. A day later, on June 30, the same jury deliberates 39 minutes before sentencing the 44-year-old to death.
Source: LA Supreme Court and Livingston Parish Clerk of Court records
At left, Gerald Bordelon during his trial. (handout) -
Bordelon attempts to waive right to appeal
Gerald Bordelon requests to waive Louisiana Supreme Court review of his conviction and death sentence. The request makes Bordelon one of only two Louisiana death row defendants ever who wish to waive direct appeal of their sentence. The trial judge rejects Bordelon's request.
Source: LA Supreme Court records -
Direct appeal received by LA Supreme Court
Louisiana Supreme Court receives Gerald Bordelon's death penalty case on direct appeal.
Source: LA Supreme Court records. -
Bordelon files motion to waive right to appeal
Baton Rouge attorney Jill Craft, representing Gerald Bordelon, files a motion asserting his right to waive direct appeal of his death sentence.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Bordelon declared competent
After evaluation by two psychiatrists, Bordelon is declared legally sane and able to understand the consequences of waiving his appeal.
Source: La. Supreme Court records. -
Capital Appeals Project motion denied
Capital Appeals ProjectLa. Supreme Court denies a motion filed by Capital Appeals Project in New Orleans to represent Gerald Bordelon. Baton Rouge attorney Jill Craft was named Bordelon's counsel in April 2007.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
La. Supreme Court rules in Bordelon's favor
La. Supreme Court opinionIn a precedent setting decision, the Louisiana Supreme Court rules in a 50-page opinion that Gerald Bordelon has the right to waive direct appeal of his death sentence and orders the lower court to set an execution date.
Source: La. Supreme Court records -
Death warrant for Bordelon issued
District Judge Bruce C. Bennett, who presided over Bordelon's first-degree murder trial, signs a warrant setting Bordelon's execution for Jan. 7, 2010.
Source: Associated Press
