Handicapped man beaten to death by his own cane

Convicted man gets 29 years in prison for 2015 murder

Rodney Naquin Jr. was sentenced to 29 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to a count of manslaughter connected with the 2015 death of Jassen Robert of Ama, in which authorities say Naquin stabbed the disabled man 17 times as he burglarized his home.

Robert was partially paralyzed on his right side from a stroke he suffered years ago and used a cane to walk.

On Oct. 10,2015, Naquin drove to the Robert Street home of the 48-year-old victim to buy “one or more pain pills,”  according to court documents. Naquin apparently paid $25 to Robert for a pill, but Robert refused to give it to him.

An enraged Naquin took Robert’s cane and beat him with it, which sent Robert crashing through the glass of his entertainment center, according to court documents.

The attack began in Robert’s living room and continued for some time before the two ended up in his bedroom, where Naquin demanded the combination to a safe Robert kept in the residence. After getting the combination, Naquin apparently opened the safe, which contained a variety of drugs including oxycodone, hydrocodone and Xanax, and took pills and cash.

Naquin left the residence. Robert fell to the floor, between his dresser and bed, where he died from his injuries including stab wounds to his head, arm, back, chest, neck and ear.

Three days later, Robert’s body was found in his home. The court documents state Robert did not resist the attack in either room.

Naquin, 27, of Waggaman, pleaded guilty to manslaughter as part of a plea bargain and received credit for time served. His initial charge of second-degree murder was reduced and charges of obstruction of justice and armed robbery were dismissed.

Surveillance video footage from cameras in the neighborhood provided evidence tying Naquin to the crime scene.

The drugs stolen from the safe were found at Naquin’s residence.

According to court documents, after initially lying to authorities, Naquin later admitted to detectives he had beaten and robbed Robert, as well as thrown away blood-stained boots he wore during the attack.

He is serving his sentence at Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility.