NATCHEZ &045; Sadness. Anger. And, mixed with all these other strong emotions, joy that progress is being made.

All that, and more, was part of Sheree Bryant’s reaction to news Monday that a warrant had been issued for Derrick Todd Lee, 34, of St. Francisville, La., in connection with the Baton Rouge area serial killings. Bryant, of Natchez, is the sister off Gina Wilson Green, 41, of Baton Rouge, whom authorities have said was the first woman slain by the serial killer. Other victims have included Charlotte Murray Pace, 22, and Pam Kinamore, 44, both of Baton Rouge; and Trineisha Dene Colomb, 23, of Lafayette.

Bryant said she heard news of the warrant from the task force of agencies searching for the suspect.

&uot;They’re always good about letting the victims’ families know everything,&uot; said Bryan, whose youngest sister still lives in Baton Rouge. &uot;They don’t want us to hear it on the news first.&uot;

When Bryant and her family heard Monday’s news of a warrant and of a renewed nationwide search for the suspect, &uot;we were elated &045; but still sad.&uot;

&uot;Then there’s the fact that he’s still on the loose, and we just hope nobody else gets hurt. Until he’s caught, we’re just patiently waiting, like everybody else.&uot;

As far as the case is concerned, Bryant said, &uot;the end is in sight.&uot; But for her and her family, closure will not come for quite a while.

Relatives still mark each month that Green has been gone from them &045; the 20-month anniversary of her death passed on Friday, Bryant said.

They still question why. And they still seek justice. &uot;My sister’s life was taken from her &045; as far as I’m concerned, for no reason,&uot; Bryant said. &uot;He (the killer) has messed up five families’ lives forever.

&uot;My closure will be when he’s not breathing any more.&uot;