High School Student and Boyfriend Dead in Shocking Murder-Suicide
Mamou High School/Facebook, @_djtitanic_/Instagram
A school community in Louisiana is grieving the tragic loss of 17-year-old Dashayla Ardoin, who was killed in what authorities are investigating as an apparent murder-suicide. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office identified Ardoin, a resident of Mamou, and the suspect, 21-year-old Glenkeithan Robertson, from Opelousas.
According to police, the bodies of Ardoin and Robertson were found in a car just after 7 p.m. on Saturday along White Oak Highway. Authorities believe the incident occurred while the pair were traveling to Mamou, possibly to attend homecoming festivities at Ardoin’s school. The school had hosted its homecoming game the day before her death, with a celebration likely planned for the following evening.
“Lord, we pray for peace, strength, and understanding as we return to school tomorrow without one of our own. Please keep our students and staff, as well as the family and friends of Dashayla, in your prayers. Dashayla will always be remembered for her courage and bravery, her kind heart, and her beautiful smile. She was so very loved and will be dearly missed,” the school wrote on Facebook.
Sheriff K.P. Gibson told PEOPLE that based on the route the two were traveling, it is believed they were en route to participate in the homecoming events. Ardoin had been dressed for the occasion, and one of the last photos of her shows her in a floor-length gown, ready for the festivities.
Robertson’s social media profiles paint a picture of the relationship between the two. A DJ by trade, Robertson frequently posted images of himself and Ardoin. In one post, he captioned a photo of the pair with the words, “Me & You Against The World.”
The news of their deaths has left the community in shock, with friends and family expressing disbelief and grief over the tragedy. Tributes for both Ardoin and Robertson have poured in on social media, with many expressing their sorrow over the loss of such young lives.
While authorities continue to investigate the details surrounding the incident, the community has been left to grapple with the sudden and heartbreaking loss. The school has yet to release a formal statement, but a separate post on their Facebook page acknowledged the timing of Ardoin’s death, just one day after the school’s homecoming game.
Sheriff Gibson expressed his condolences and acknowledged the emotional toll the incident has taken on the community. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy for all involved,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of both Dashayla and Glenkeithan.”
The motive behind the apparent murder-suicide remains unclear, and law enforcement is continuing its investigation into the events leading up to the tragedy. Meanwhile, the community remains in mourning as they come to terms with the loss of a promising young life cut short.
