Man wrongfully arrested in fatal hit-and-run of 6-year-old boy, district attorney says

SLIDELL, La. (WVUE/Gray News) - A man is now working to rebuild his life after he was mistakenly accused of killing a 6-year-old boy in a hit-and-run.

Nearly three weeks ago, Cody Beaudette found himself handcuffed in a St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office cruiser, arrested in connection with the death of Jeremiah Ramirez.

“You just could hear my six-year-old screaming at the top of her lungs and, you know, tears from fear,” Beaudette said.

Jeremiah was killed while riding a scooter in the driveway of his Slidell-area home on Aug. 13. Deputies said the vehicle that hit Jeremiah took off from the scene.

Beaudette was initially identified as the prime suspect, despite telling investigators he was in the area at the time for his daughter’s cheerleading practice.

“They were 100% sure that I was the one that did it,” Beaudette said.

He was booked on charges of vehicular homicide, hit-and-run, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

However, Beaudette’s sister, Jordyn Rolston, said she never believed the deputies’ assessment.

She investigated the scene herself and found a security camera capturing a silver Nissan Armada leaving the neighborhood minutes after the crash. The vehicle showed significant front-end damage.

Rolston said deputies never followed up with the homeowner to review the footage.

“It really does make me wonder how many other people out there are in a situation like ours,” Rolston said.

After obtaining the video, private investigator Dallas McLanahan, a former Slidell police officer, tried to bring the evidence to the sheriff’s office, but said investigators showed little interest. McLanahan then took the evidence directly to District Attorney Colin Sims.

Joe Raspanti, Beaudette’s attorney, criticized the initial investigation.

“If you look at the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office in a light most favorable to them, they’re lazy, they’re negligent, and they didn’t care,” he said.

On Friday, the DA’s office dropped all death-related charges against Beaudette.

Hours later, deputies arrested a woman, identified as 40-year-old Connie Noel Estes, in connection with the fatal hit-and-run.

She was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center on charges of Felony Hit-and-Run with Death or Serious Bodily Injury and Felony Obstruction of Justice. A judge set a $1 million bond.

Beaudette described the experience as “stressful, depressing, emotional. Every word you can think of. I mean, it was a nightmare.”

“My name will always be associated with that original mugshot and the defamation that came with that,” he said.

Beaudette said he hopes his experience prompts more thorough investigations in the future.

“Especially with a crime of this magnitude, a little more investigating and police work should go into the charges before making an arrest,” he said.

In addition to the now refused charges related to the child’s death, deputies also booked Beaudette with DWI, driving with a suspended license, child endangerment, and no child restraint.

The St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office said those charges remain.