Photo: Lafayette Parish Sheriff's OfficeLAFAYETTE, La. - (CBS/WWL/KLFY) Our partner station in Lafayette is reporting that Brandon Lavergne has pleaded guilty to the murders of Mickey Shunick and Lisa Pate in exchange for a life sentence.
Lavergne arrived around 9 a.m. There was word a surprise witness for the prosecution was expected to testify at the evidentiary hearing in Lafayette. During the hearing, Lavergne changed his plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Lavergne was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Mickey Shunick and Lisa Pate. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges and prosecutors said they were going to seek the death penalty
Shunick, a student at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, went missing on May 19. She was last seen riding a bike, which would turn up a few weeks later.
Lavergne was arrested several weeks later and charged in the case even before a body was discovered.
On August 7, a body believed to be Shunick's was found. Two days later it was confirmed to be the missing ULL student.
***Update***
Pam Laborde with the Department of Corrections says as of 3:40 pm Brandon Lavergne is an inmate at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
Whether he is placed in solitary confinement or with the general population will be based on several factors, Laborde says.
His demeanor upon his arrival is one of those factors.
Laborde says they usually put incoming prisoners in a cell by themselves until they decide whether he'll go into solitary confinement or put him with the general population.
**Stay tuned to KALB News Channel 5 and kalb.com for the latest updates.**
