Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell announced that a Thibodaux man charged with 2nd Degree Murder in October of 2018 was convicted as charged by a Lafourche Parish jury on Tuesday, December 14th.
Tyrick Hills, 22, coerced the victim, 20-year-old Alex Morena, to meet him on Dove Lane in Thibodaux. When the victim arrived several hours later, he was shot multiple times during a robbery orchestrated by Hills with his accomplices. The victim died on the scene. An investigation conducted by the Thibodaux Police Department led to the arrest of Tyrick Hills.
During the trial, Hills, who decided to testify, claimed he lied during his interview with Thibodaux Police Detective Lt. Varick Taylor about participating in the crime that led to the murder of the victim because he was scared. Assistant District Attorney Shaun George, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney Greg Stahlnecker, brought out that although Hills claims at trial he lied during the interview, the evidence supported his original statement to law enforcement.
“This is not a game,” said Assistant District Attorney Shaun George. “This is a court of law. A place where you and you alone are held responsible for your actions.”
George continued, “The defendant gave a statement that was corroborated with physical evidence. That’s not a coincidence, it’s a confession.”
The twelve-person jury deliberated for just under two hours before returning a unanimous guilty verdict.
Tyrick Hills, who has remained in custody since his arrest, was ordered to remain in custody without bond pending his sentencing date by the Honorable F. Hugh Larose, who presided over the trial.
“I want to commend the investigation of the Thibodaux Police Department, and more specifically Detective Lt. Varick Taylor on his thorough work that led to this conviction,” said ADA Shaun George.
Hills faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. One of Hills’ accomplices is set for trial in the coming months.