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Lee Zurik Investigations

  • Outside the Office
  • Attention to the Details
  • Talking Trash
  • Strangled
  • Empty Field of Dreams
  • Cost of Choice
  • Cracking the Code

Lee Zurik Investigations

Plaquemines Parish deputy Vincenzo Sainato has been reassigned, pending an internal...

Zurik: Law professor questions conflict of interest within Plaquemines sheriff’s office

Updated: May. 24, 2023 at 11:36 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
One Plaquemines Parish Deputy has had more than a dozen complaints filed against him in the past three years, but there’s one thing in common with every time he was exonerated. One lieutenant has investigated every case in which he was exonerated or the complaint was determined to be unfounded.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Lafourche Parish Coroner Dr. John King under criminal investigation

Zurik: Police issue search warrant to Lafourche coroner accused of padding paycheck

Updated: May. 23, 2023 at 10:38 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
A state police search warrant shows the Lafourche Parish coroner is being investigated for public contract fraud, which is a felony.

Investigations

building under way on Harvey subdivision

Zurik: Land deal netted politician’s family nearly $500,000

Updated: May. 17, 2023 at 10:01 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
An empty tract of land, bought for $70,000 sold just two years later at nearly eight times the purchase price. Documents acquired by FOX 8 show the sale benefited the family of a Jefferson Parish politician.

Lee Zurik Investigations

State Rep. Cedric Glover authored the bill that allows exonerated inmates to be paid...

Zurik: Lawmaker says AG Landry is misinterpreting his exonerated inmate compensation law

Updated: May. 15, 2023 at 10:05 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Past Attorneys General have challenged some compensation claims; however, Jeff Landry has done so all but two times since he took office.

Investigations

Exonerated inmates struggle to receive compensation state says they’re owed

ZURIK: Exonerated inmates struggle to receive compensation owed to them in Louisiana

Updated: May. 10, 2023 at 11:02 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Locked up for crimes they didn’t commit for years or even decades; when exonerated inmates are finally freed, they often barely recognize the world they’re released into. Louisiana has a program to compensate exonerated inmates, but in recent years, many have struggled to get the money the state says they’re owed.

News

Two Lee Zurik investigations, "Drained" and "Outside the Office" received prestigious National...

Two Fox 8 investigations honored with national awards

Updated: May. 10, 2023 at 10:28 AM CDT
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By FOX 8 Staff
Lee Zurik's investigation into the SWBNO's failure to pay court-order settlements was awarded as the best television story of the year among local and network organizations.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Plaquemines Parish deputy Vincenzo Sainato has been reassigned, pending an internal...

Zurik: Plaquemines deputy reassigned days after Fox 8 investigation

Updated: May. 9, 2023 at 10:14 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
A sworn affidavit by Deputy Vincenzo Sainato was examined in a Fox 8 report

News

New Orleans Police Department | File

NOPD defends resistance to turning over Vappie investigation to Federal Consent Decree Monitor

Updated: May. 4, 2023 at 4:08 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
The NOPD doubles down, defending its resistance to turn over an internal investigation into officer Jeffrey Vappie to federal consent decree monitors.

Lee Zurik Investigations

A Plaquemine Parish deputy claims to be at two places at once

Louisiana man arrested and detained for nearly 72 hours despite claims of video evidence proving his innocence

Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 11:15 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
A frequently-sanctioned deputy claims one man was at the scene of an accident when video appears to show him watching the Super Bowl in his office.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Fox 8 unveils recordings from the NOPD's investigation into Officer Jeffrey Vappie

Federal monitor raises concerns about Vappie investigation leaks, NOPD’s compliance with consent decree

Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 5:04 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
The federal monitor in charge of overseeing the New Orleans Police Department’s compliance with the consent decree says the department’s Public Integrity Bureau has been “backsliding.”
Radar
Radar

Outside the Office

NOPD’s Vappie resigns from HANO board seat awarded by Mayor Cantrell

Updated: May. 3, 2023 at 12:18 AM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Ken Daley
Vappie spent a year as a HANO board commissioner, despite no obvious public housing qualifications

Outside the Office

Zurik: Officer Vappie’s unusual reassignment under internal investigation

Updated: May. 2, 2023 at 10:52 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
The NOPD won't explain why Officer Jeffrey Vappie was temporarily reassigned to another city department late last year

Lee Zurik Investigations

Zurik: St. Tammany autopsies for neighboring parishes come at a loss for taxpayers

Updated: Apr. 27, 2023 at 11:05 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Despite claiming seven-figure profits, documents indicate that outside autopsies may be costing St. Tammany Parish taxpayers money.

Outside the Office

Zurik: Cantrell’s security team lacks written policies, chain of command, audit finds

Updated: Apr. 27, 2023 at 6:05 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Inspector General Ed Michel's office says it has discovered no policies in place to regulate and guide the executive protection team’s operations.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Zurik: NOPD Interim Chief defends allowing formerly-suspended Lieutenant to work off-duty details

Updated: Apr. 6, 2023 at 5:05 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Michelle Woodfork defended the NOPD's decision to allow former Captain Sabrina Richardson to return to detail work while she remains under investigation for allegedly abusing the detail program.

Attention to the Details

ZURIK: NOPD Lieutenant returns to detail work after suspension over alleged abuse of program

Updated: Apr. 6, 2023 at 1:24 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Sabrina Richardson is currently under two criminal investigations, however, after returning from her suspension, she was able to resume participation in the same program she’s been accused of abusing.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Zurik: Lafourche Parish president vetoes pay raise for coroner accused of padding paychecks

Updated: Apr. 4, 2023 at 10:31 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Dr. John King's raise put on hold during Louisiana State Police investigation

Outside the Office

Mayor Cantrell again defends use of Pontalba, opposes possible rule changes

Updated: Mar. 29, 2023 at 5:39 PM CDT
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By Rob Masson
Mayor Cantrell also said there is nothing inappropriate about her security team members running her personal errands.

Investigations

Zurik: LSP criminal investigation launched into Lafourche coroner accused of padding paycheck

Updated: Mar. 29, 2023 at 5:05 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
The Lafourche Parish President confirms the longtime parish coroner, Dr. John King is under criminal investigation. Despite that investigation, the council voted to officially raise King’s salary at a Tuesday night meeting.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Zurik: New Orleans councilmember calls for changes to French Quarter food cart ordinance

Updated: Mar. 28, 2023 at 10:04 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
New Orleans City Councilmember Freddie King says it is time to revisit a 50-year-old ordinance that has allowed Lucky Dogs to become the exclusive food cart vendor in the French Quarter.

Outside the Office

ZURIK: City Council to outline uses for Upper Pontalba Apartment unit

Updated: Mar. 28, 2023 at 5:19 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
The New Orleans City Council will outline how the Upper Pontalba Apartment can be used after the New Orleans office of Inspector General concluded its current use could violate city ordinance and state law.

News

Morrell seeks IG probe of city attorney’s involvement in Vappie investigation

Updated: Mar. 28, 2023 at 4:22 PM CDT
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By FOX 8 Staff
Why the city attorney had recorded statements from an open PIB investigation remains unclear

Outside the Office

Zurik: Recordings reveal Cantrell administration tried to reinstate Vappie to security team while under NOPD investigation

Updated: Mar. 22, 2023 at 10:51 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Jeffrey Vappie changed clothes in the Pontalba apartment that other protectors of Mayor Cantrell rarely if ever entered

Outside the Office

Zurik: Fact-checking Cantrell’s HANO claims involving NOPD’s Jeffrey Vappie

Updated: Mar. 22, 2023 at 5:20 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Records contradict new claims by Mayor Cantrell regarding NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie's time at HANO board meetings

Outside the Office

Zurik: Former Cantrell protectors describe holding mayor’s purse, doing her shopping, chauffeuring daughter

Updated: Mar. 21, 2023 at 10:34 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Scope of requested duties often went beyond security, officers told PIB

Outside the Office

Zurik: NOPD investigators question Mayor Cantrell’s security team about timesheets

Updated: Mar. 20, 2023 at 5:28 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Long hours, big paychecks and little oversight: New recordings shed light on the operations of Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s security detail

Lee Zurik Investigations

Permission to Practice: Doctors, patients say insurance prior-authorizations put profits over people

Updated: Mar. 20, 2023 at 2:53 PM CDT
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By Emily Featherston, Jamie Grey, Lee Zurik, Bailey Williams and Payton Romans
Insurance companies say these reviews lower costs and protect patients, but what requires advance permission varies plan to plan, and critics argue the policies get between a patient and their doctor.

Outside the Office

ZURIK: Investigators question Mayor Cantrell’s security about travel, down time

Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 5:00 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Officers said they always billed taxpayers for 16 hours while traveling with the mayor, regardless of how long they actually worked.

Outside the Office

‘Incredibly disappointed;’ Vappie’s attorneys say recording leak compromised investigation

Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 2:44 PM CDT
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By FOX 8 Staff
In a statement sent on Fri., March 17, attorneys Branden Villavaso and Nicholas Lindner say the investigation is compromised.

Outside the Office

Zurik: Investigators grill mayor’s security about travel and Vappie’s HANO board appointment

Updated: Mar. 16, 2023 at 10:01 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Prior to Officer Vappie joining the mayor's security team, no officer ever traveled with her. Another member of the team says he doesn't know of any other officer on a public board.

Outside the Office

Inspector General recommends renting Pontalba apartment to the public

Updated: Mar. 16, 2023 at 4:49 PM CDT
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By FOX 8 Staff
The Pontalba could be generating nearly $36,000 a year in revenue, Michel says.

Outside the Office

‘Comedy of errors’: Former NOPD chief blasts release of Vappie recordings, calls for independent investigation

Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 10:56 PM CDT
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By David Jones
Members of the law enforcement community blasted the release of materials in the Vappie investigation.

Outside the Office

Zurik: Officer Vappie investigation recordings raise questions about time spent with Mayor Cantrell in Pontalba apartment

Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 10:13 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Officer Vappie was interviewed for nearly four hours and repeatedly referred to Mayor LaToya Cantrell as his supervisor, but it’s clear investigators wanted to know if a more personal relationship existed between the mayor and a member of her executive protection team.

Outside the Office

Police monitor alleges leak in NOPD’s Vappie investigation; City attorney admits to ‘mishap’

Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 1:33 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik, Ken Daley and Natasha Robin
City Attorney, NOPD say material inadvertently given to a HANO board member

Lee Zurik Investigations

Zurik: New construction lien claims Mayor Cantrell owes $20,000 for unpaid roof repair bill

Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 10:23 PM CDT
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Mayor LaToya Cantrell faces more financial trouble as a national company claims she and her husband refused to pay a $20,000 bill for roof repairs.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Zurik: Contract for Cantrell mailer reveals possible misuse of taxpayer money

Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 10:05 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
FOX 8 obtains a new document that experts say appears to provide proof that Mayor LaToya Cantrell misused tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.

Outside the Office

Zurik: Vappie’s return to Mayor Cantrell’s protection detail scuttled, NOPD federal monitor says

Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 10:25 PM CST
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By Ken Daley and Lee Zurik
Consent Decree Monitor Jonathan Aronie said he intervened in the reassignment request in December

Lee Zurik Investigations

ZURIK: Restauranteurs hopeful New Orleans revisits decades-old French Quarter food cart ordinance

Updated: Mar. 2, 2023 at 11:53 AM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
A city ordinance from April of 1972 prevents all but one company from getting a permit to sell food on the sidewalks and street corners of the French Quarter.

Recall Election

Zurik: Inaccurate Orleans voter records spurred settlement in recall petitioners’ lawsuit

Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 11:31 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik
Louisiana's Secretary of State says 25,000 active voter adjustment for recall purpose wasn't arbitrary

Lee Zurik Investigations

ZURIK: Coroner accused of padding paycheck with potentially unnecessary autopsies

Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 10:01 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
The Lafourche Parish coroner has charged taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars each year in addition to his salary. But some sources claim he created a staffing crisis, and is performing extra work himself to pad his paycheck.

Talking Trash

ZURIK: Invoices show disparity in New Orleans’ waste collection contracts

Updated: Feb. 23, 2023 at 10:10 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
One company picks up trash for about half of New Orleans but gets paid millions less each year than the two other companies that split pickup in the other half of the city. Now, some city leaders say it is time to level the playing field.

National

Hazed and Excused: Colleges and universities rarely expel fraternities, sororities for hazing violations

Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 12:18 PM CST
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By Jill Riepenhoff and Joce Sterman
Bowling Green State University in Ohio agreed to a $2.9 million settlement with the family of Stone Foltz, who died in 2021 following an alcohol-fueled fraternity hazing event. The university vowed to unite with the Foltzes in their mission to eradicate hazing. The Foltzes sued Bowling Green, in part, for its failure to punish the bad actors on its campus in the years prior to Stone’s death. Their lawsuit listed dozens of examples in which allegations of hazing weren’t fully investigated by the university or cases in which fraternities and sororities were merely placed on probation for serious violations. It's a similar story at other campuses across the country.

Lee Zurik Investigations

Cantrell campaign spent $72,000 on image consulting in 2022

Updated: Feb. 16, 2023 at 12:06 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Cantrell's Campaign Finance Report, filed just before the deadline, shows she spent $198,000 out of her campaign account in 2022.

Talking Trash

ZURIK: Kenner claims IV Waste overbilled residents millions of dollars

Updated: Feb. 15, 2023 at 4:52 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Kenner and IV Waste are now locked in a legal battle.

Lee Zurik Investigations

ZURIK: Decades-old ordinance gives food cart monopoly in French Quarter

Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 11:06 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Only one pushcart food vendor currently is permitted on the streets of the French Quarter

Lee Zurik Investigations

ZURIK: Lopsided investigations and inconsistent punishment alleged within NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau

Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 11:49 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Former NOPD officers and Police Association of New Orleans attorney Eric Hessler accuse the NOPD’s public integrity bureau of lopsided investigations and inconsistent enforcement of policies.

Outside the Office

ZURIK: Police monitor warns of potential conflicts in Vappie investigation

Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 5:02 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Stella Cziment wrote a letter warning of potential conflicts regarding the NOPD’s internal investigation into Officer Jeffrey Vappie's timesheets.

Outside the Office

ZURIK: Mayor Cantrell calls focusing on security officers’ timesheets ‘unfair’

Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 5:05 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Mayor LaToya Cantrell provided hardly any details about what members of her executive protection team are doing while logging long work days, sometimes nowhere near her.

Outside the Office

Zurik: Mayor Cantrell allowed family members to use city-owned Upper Pontalba apartment, emails show

Updated: Feb. 6, 2023 at 10:54 PM CST
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By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
New Orleans taxpayers own one of the units in the Upper Pontalba Apartments, but newly obtained emails appear to show Mayor LaToya Cantrell using the unit as a guest house for family members.

Outside the Office

Zurik: Mayor Cantrell’s security detail sometimes outnumbered those policing an entire NOPD district

Updated: Feb. 6, 2023 at 10:24 PM CST
|
By Lee Zurik and Dannah Sauer
Records show Mayor Cantrell's protection officers on the clock in New Orleans even when she was out of state or in France
News
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