Convicted murderer returns to area

Phillip DeSelle has returned to Evangeline Parish.
The convicted murderer was transferred from Rapides Parish Jail to the Evangeline Parish Jail on Thursday. Deselle, 65, was arrested by Alexandria authorities on Friday, June 5 for violating his parole due to no longer having an approved living plan. That resulted in Deselle being shipped back to Evangeline Parish, where he first lived after being released from the David Wade Correctional Center in Homer in January.
Deselle served 24 years of a 50-year sentence for the 1990 murder of 11-year-old Averie Grace Evans of Natchitoches, who disappeared while selling candy door-to-door. Her body was never recovered.
Pam Laborde, Communications Director for the La. Department of Public Safety and Corrections, confirmed that DeSelle had been transferred to Evangeline Parish.
“He was in the process of transferring to our Alexandria district but there was some issues with residences address he provided for us,” Laborde said. “So it was ultimately not approved. That’s why he was transferred back.”
Deselle will remain in custody until he has an alternate living plan which has to be approved by parole officials. Deselle is under supervised parole until 2040 which also requires him to wear a GPS monitor.
“He will be in custody until he can provide an approved residency plan,” Laborde said. “If he can’t provide a plan in time that could possibly be a violation.”
Deselle’s release stemmed from a good behavior provision which has since been altered. Inmates like Deselle could earn credits for good behavior or for participating in self-improvement programs. The La. Legislature changed the law in 1997 but Deselle was sentenced under the old law, thus allowing him to still take advantage of the older guidelines.
Violent offenders in the state of Louisiana now must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before being considered for an early release from incarnation.
Deselle is not regulated to finding approved residence in Evangeline Parish. The Ville Platte District of the La. Department of Public Safety and Corrections consists of Evangeline as well as Allen and St. Landry Parishes.