Rapides Parish, Louisiana (KALB) – Lacy Jordan, 29, of Oakdale, was sentenced by Judge Greg Beard to five years, suspended, for the Jan. 9, 2020, car accident that killed Taurus McQuarn-Walker, 50, of Alexandria. riding his bike. Instead, she will receive three years of supervised probation.
According to Louisiana State Police (LSP), McQuarn-Walker was struck by a vehicle driven by Jordan on Highway 165 south of Alexandria at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 9, 2020. McQuarn-Walker was ejected from his bike and pronounced dead at the scene. Jordan fled the scene after the crash but was located later that night, the LSP said.
Jordan pleaded guilty to manslaughter on October 27, 2022. As a result of the guilty plea, the Rapids Parish District Attorney’s Office dismissed the following charges: hit-and-run resulting in death or serious injury, careless operation of a vehicle, restricted left-hand access, incorrectly tinted windows and expired license plates. In Louisiana, a conviction for manslaughter “shall be punishable by imprisonment or non-hard labor not exceeding five years and a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars, or both.”
On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Jordan received her sentencing. It follows a victim impact statement issued by McQuarn-Walker’s uncle, Brian Jackson, on behalf of the family. Jordan cried as Jackson spoke.
“Taurus is father, grandfather, uncle, brother. Taurus has a gentle spirit,” Jackson told the court. “I want everyone to see his homecoming celebration in our church. It’s just standing room.
Jackson described McQueen-Walker as someone who “wouldn’t hurt anyone” and someone who could always be trusted.
“I’ve forgiven you,” Jackson told Jordan. “I forgave you that day. The Lord said that revenge is not ours, but His.”
Jordan had the opportunity to address the McQuarn-Walker family, which she did.
“I am deeply sorry for the departure of Taurus,” Jordan said. “There is nothing I can do to lessen your pain and what you’re going through. I take responsibility and I’m sorry. I think about him every day. I want to use this story to help people so his story can help others.”
In sentencing, Judge Greg Beard said he considered what McQueen-Walker’s family had to say in their victim impact statement and also referred to a similar incident involving Jordan on November 7, 2012.
In the Nov. 7, 2012 incident, Jordan, then 19, hit Jacob Logan Simpson, 15, of Lecompte, on Highway 165 at C. Walters Road . The Louisiana State Police report said Simpson was riding his bicycle in the northbound lane, in the middle of the left lane, when Jordan’s northbound vehicle collided with him. Simpson was pronounced dead at the hospital. No criminal charges have emerged in the crash.
“This is not the first time this has happened in your life,” Judge Greg Beard said. “Accidents happen, it’s up to you how you react, as long as the word ‘accident’ is there, there are always consequences.”
“Ten years later, you’re back,” Judge Beard noted.
“Accidents are sometimes avoidable,” Judge Beard said. “It takes conscious effort.”
As Judge Beard prepared to pronounce Jordan’s sentence, Assistant District Attorney Lea Hall noted that he “made no recommendation to the court regarding sentencing.”
“For that, the judgment is a judgment on the court,” Hall said. “The decision is yours.”
For this reason, Judge Beard sentenced Jordan to five years of hard labor, with a suspended execution. Jordan was placed on supervised probation for three years. The trial period comes with a set of standard rules such as no alcohol, bars, lounges, CDS and casino.
“Parents should never have buried their children,” Judge Beard said afterwards.
Following the verdict, News Channel 5 spoke to McQuarn-Walker’s family and his sister, Aletha Walker. Walker told CNN that the family was “surprised and disappointed by the verdict,” but understands the possibility of such an outcome, especially since the 2012 incident did not result in criminal charges.
Walker told us that her family and McQuarn-Walker’s former employers — Joel, Brittney and Jordyn Couvillion, Brandon and Sarah Butler — now hold a Taurus Day every year as family.
“Every year we make Taurus’s memory fresh,” Walker said. “We’ve become one big family.”
“On behalf of everyone at Joel’s Auto Sales, we will always remember the laughter and joy that Taurus brought to our lives,” said Jordyn Couvillion, an employee representing Joel’s Auto Sales, McQuarn-Walker’s former employer. “He was an employee for over 15 years, a friend, an inspiration and a positive light in every situation. We are deeply saddened by the unexpected loss and pray that his untimely death will bring awareness to the Distracted driving and/or overall reckless behavior. Taurus was more than an employee, he was family and we will miss him forever. We ask that your thoughts and prayers be sent to his loved ones on this painful day.”
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Jordan is represented by Mike Small. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Leah Hall.
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