Ferriday woman states self defense in parish murder

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 14, 2008

VIDALIA — The woman accused in the fatal Sunday stabbing of a Ferriday man made her first appearance in court Wednesday.

Crystal M. Gordon, 19, 114 Brook St., Ferriday, was arrested on charges of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 27-year-old Alex Promise Jr. Sunday.

Gordon was magistrated before the Seventh District Judicial Court Wednesday morning, and Judge Leo Boothe set her bond at $275,000.

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Dressed in an orange Concordia Parish inmate’s suit, Gordon appeared ill at ease and rocked back-and-forth in her chair during the proceeding as Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office Investigator Bobby Sheppard briefed Boothe about the case.

The killing happened outside 100 Woodmont St., in Ridgecrest, where Gordon’s grandmother lives.

According to Sheppard, after she was arrested, Gordon told investigators she and Promise, who were living together, had had an altercation earlier that afternoon.

Promise was leaving the couple’s Brook Street residence, and told Gordon to take him to Ferriday, Sheppard said.

Gordon reportedly told investigators it was at that time she armed herself with a kitchen knife because, “she was afraid he would jump on her again,” Sheppard said.

When the quarreling couple reached the Woodmont Street residence, Gordon reportedly told investigators Promise hit her — the investigator noted a mark on her head, Sheppard said — and when she tried to exit the vehicle Promise reportedly grabbed her.

It was at that point Gordon reportedly said she stabbed Promise in self-defense, Sheppard said.

CPSO investigators later found the knife they believe was used in the stabbing in the mud behind the Woodmont Street residence.

Gordon has also been charged with a bench warrant for failure to appear at an unrelated court date.