Frustrated family awaits trial for seven years as triple murder suspect sits on billion dollar bond

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Good evening. First on News 2 at 6:00 for the first time since the murder of their mother and sister 6 years ago, a family speaks out about their long wait for justice.

[00:00:09]>> The murder trial of Michael Wade has been delayed several times. News 2's David Hamilton joins us with their frustrations. Michael Suggs, the Sheriff's office today confirmed that Michael Wade remains held in East Baton Rouge Parish Jail on a bond of more than $1 billion. That's one of the highest in the country. Even so, the victim's family remains frustrated by the incredible length of time it's taken to actually go to trial in this case.

[00:00:34]Back in June 2019, East Baton Rouge Sheriff deputies lit a portion of Palm Mar Lane with blue lights and caution tape. The scene where Michael Wade allegedly killed Krista Sutus, Ruby White, and Ivy Frank. Investigators say two young boys were also inside the home when the murders took place. She died in a hospital or there was a car wreck or something. Like somebody came in and took their lives brutally in front of our cousins or you know, their nephews, my little cousins.

[00:01:01]And came with a vengeance and we're pissed. The case has stretched on for nearly 7 years. 2019, Wade charged with the triple homicide. 2021, prosecutors file a motion seeking the death penalty.

[00:01:15]2023, a change in judges. The Honorable Tiffany Foxworth Roberts takes over the case. In 2024, the judge sets a trial but Wade's attorney tries to remove Foxworth Roberts from the case. After months of hearings and delays, the Louisiana Supreme Court allows her to stay. December 2025, the state Supreme Court removes Judge Foxworth Roberts from the bench but in this case, her previous rulings stand. However, this delays the trial yet again. Two months later, this past February, the state files a motion to set a March 5th trial date with Judge Collette Gregs.

[00:01:48]March 2026, Gregs asked to be recused from the case due to the complexity of the death penalty proceedings. And now in May, Judge Carson Marcantel takes over, setting a motion hearing for June 29th. Our biggest frustration is the fact that we're having to do our own research to get updates on cases because they feel like that they don't have anything to report on, but yet there was a a court date on Monday for a judge to rule on something and we didn't find out till we had to reach out. Family members told me they're most concerned about the emotional and mental state these delays have had on the two boys inside the home that night. Get that day over with so that these kids can grow can move you know, can learn to deal and cope with everything, especially after they have to relive it moment by moment.

[00:02:43]In court documents, prosecutors strongly recommended the Louisiana Supreme Court appoint an ad hoc judge to reach trial sooner, arguing that justice no longer be delayed. Sylvia.