U.S. Marshals Continue Search for East Baton Rouge Man Wanted in 2016 Murder
Washington, DC – A Baton Rouge, Louisiana, man added to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) 15 Most Wanted fugitive List in December 2023 remains at large, and the agency is offering up to $25,000 as a reward for information that leads investigators to his location.
Leethel White aka “Lee Lee,” 47, is wanted by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office for first-degree murder and attempted murder.
White is alleged to have shot two female associates at close range, killing one and severely injuring the other in a January 2016 incident in the Gardere area of Baton Rouge.
White is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighs approximately 215 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on both arms, his chest and his back. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
“I urge anyone with information that can help us find Mr. White or his remains and close this investigation to come forward and help us bring closure to the victims and their families,” said William Travis Brown Jr., U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Louisiana.
While the USMS does not not usually offer rewards in cases in which the fugitive is deceased, in rare situations, if there is uncertainty about a fugitive’s status, the agency may offer a reward for information to confirm a death to close the case. Anyone with information regarding White’s whereabouts or the location of his remains is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals 24-hour tip line at 1-877-WANTED2 or send information via the USMS Tips App.
Created in 1983, the USMS 15 Most Wanted fugitive program draws attention to some of the country’s most dangerous and high-profile fugitives. These fugitives tend to be career criminals with histories of violence who pose a significant threat to public safety. Generally, 15MW fugitives are considered the “worst of the worst” and can include murderers, sex offenders, major drug kingpins, organized crime figures and individuals wanted for high-profile financial crimes. Since the program began in 1983, more than 250 15MW fugitive cases have been closed.
The USMS has a long history of providing assistance and expertise to other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in support of their fugitive investigations. Working with authorities at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels, USMS-led fugitive task forces arrested more than 74,000 fugitives and cleared nearly 89,000 warrants in FY 2024.
Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov