Filmmaker and Washington Parish native Tucker Simmons joins us to share what drew him to this case.
New documentary series focuses on unsolved case of Washington parish mother Donna Arceneaux
Brheanna Boudreaux: 643, welcome back. A case that, ah, we have been following for quite a while. The unsolved case of Donna Arceneaux. It still lingers over that small town in Washington Parish, and for the family there as well. WWL Louisiana brought you extensive coverage on Arceneaux case, with family sharing the terrifying moments. The mother of three was found shot to death in her home back in 2017.
Audio: 911 what’s your emergency?
Donna Arceneaux’s sister: She was found on the floor half naked and had been shot through her chest.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Just horrifying there. Hearing from her sister, a new docu-series called Freeze Frame is uncovering the grim details and the renewed efforts to find answers. We’ve got filmmaker and Washington Parish native Tucker Simmons joining us to share more about, you know, producing some new information on this. But also, you and I were talking, and you have, a family connection here.
Tucker Simmons: Yeah. Donna was married to my uncle in the early two thousands and had an amazing time with her growing up.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Wow. I mean, I can’t imagine being a filmmaker and having, you know, your career and your passion clash with such a heartbreaking story here. And so, for anyone who’s not familiar, first off, thanks for being here.
Tucker Simmons: I have to say, thanks for having me.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Yeah, yeah, no, we’re so happy to have you here. I know a lot of people very interested in, you know, finding justice for Donna and for, you know, all of you, her family and anyone there in the town. This has really stumped people. Now, this cold case for seven years, which we know, Washington, Parish, the sheriff there has reopened this. So that’s good news there. just tell us a little of the background for anyone who may not be familiar.
Tucker Simmons: So Donna was found shot in her home in October 2017 by her then boyfriend and her spiritual advisor. for some reason, the sheriff’s office announced to the newspaper that it was suicide. But the coroner’s office and the pathologist in St. Tammany have told us on the record that they never believed it was suicide. It was always homicide. So we thought we’d look into it. And some of the details are pretty shocking. There’s a lot of unanswered questions. So our goal is to put pressure on law enforcement to do something.
Brheanna Boudreaux: And this is something that you’ve lived through personally, but being a filmmaker, how did you have to sort of shift your thinking in order to be able to now work on this case?
Tucker Simmons: Essentially, I’m much more comfortable behind the scenes, and, I didn’t go into this planning to be part of the story, but it’s my hometown. It involves people in my family, of course, childhood friends who are now sources. And so I have to really separate my personal viewpoints.
Tucker Simmons: To approach this in a way that still has integrity.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Yeah, of course, I imagine it’s very difficult, but, I also rewarding, in a sense, because you’re hopefully going to help push this forward, because all anyone wants to know is what happened to Donna. It’s devastating. I mean, a mother of three, and to not have these answers and then with that confusion surrounding false information being put out.
Tucker Simmons: Right. And I think an example of why my job is, I think it’s important. the state police told us it was a cold case that takes less priority due to a lack of resources back in the middle of last year. So we put a billboard up in Franklinton, which you just saw, and, a few days later, they found those resources and manpower and assigned a new detective and reached, out to Donna’s son. So, it’s provocative, but it worked.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Yeah.
Tucker Simmons: And we’re grateful that they have someone working the case.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Absolutely. Okay. So I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell people the docuseries, it just dropped episode one yesterday. Okay, episode one. And there’s going to be several episodes. Where can they find all of it?
Tucker Simmons: You can go to freezeframepodcast.com dot, you can find freeze frame on Spotify, Apple Music, iHeartRadio, anywhere you get your podcasts.
Brheanna Boudreaux: What’s the ultimate goal?
Tucker Simmons: To solve the case. And for Donna’s family and children to know that she did not commit suicide.
Brheanna Boudreaux: All right. Thank you so much for being here and doing this work, too. I mean, a passion project, I’m sure, but still one that can’t be easy. So we look forward.
Tucker Simmons: Thank you so much.
Brheanna Boudreaux: Being able to see all of the episodes. Freeze frame episode one, as we mentioned, available now on all podcast platforms. New episodes will be available weekly every Tuesday. Did I get that right? Tuesday. They’ll be dropping through November 19. Be sure to follow at Freeze Frame Pod for those real-time updates as well. Thanks so much for being in, Tucker. All right.