September 23, 2026

NEW ORLEANS — The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office secured guilty verdicts in three separate prosecutions involving the killing of a pregnant mother and her unborn child, the domestic violence murder of a mother of two, and the sexual abuse of a child by her father. Juries returned the verdicts between Sept. 12 and Sept. 18, 2026, following trials that brought grieving families and a young survivor into court to confront the people responsible.

Zachery Holmes was convicted of second-degree murder, second-degree feticide, and attempted first-degree murder. Kelvin Atkins was convicted of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Edwin Martin was convicted on all five counts, including first-degree rape. All three remain in custody awaiting sentencing.

At the press conference, District Attorney Jason Williams joined victims’ relatives and prosecutors to discuss the outcomes, recognize those who helped bring the cases to trial and acknowledge the losses that remain after a verdict.

“Behind every case number is a human being,” Williams said. “Behind every indictment, every witness, every piece of evidence and every verdict is a victim and a family whose life has been forever changed.”

Among those family members was Judge Kimya Holmes, the aunt of Johnshane Powell who was murdered by Atkins. Judge Holmes described her heartbreak and her years in the legal profession could not prepare her to face.

“Nothing that I’ve ever done, either as an attorney or as a judge, prepares you to testify as a next of kin witness for a child that you have helped raise since birth,” Holmes said.

On July 1, 2023, Johnshane Powell reported that Kelvin Atkins had assaulted her and stolen her firearm. Two days later, Atkins shot her 19 times in the 2400 block of New Orleans Street. Powell left behind two little girls.

Investigators assembled surveillance footage, cellphone records and witness accounts that contradicted Atkins’ claim that he had been in Slidell that night. An officer’s body-camera footage preserved Powell’s final words which named Atkins as the shooter.

On Sept. 18, 2026, following a retrial, a jury found Atkins guilty of second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. An earlier trial ended with a hung jury.

“It is a privilege and an honor to be able to give a voice to victims who have had their voice silenced,” Assistant District Attorney Adele Krieger said. “She should be here.”

Holmes thanked the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for helping her tell her two great-nieces that their mother was never coming back. She also thanked investigators and prosecutors for supporting her family through both trials.

“You could have easily not tried this case again when it was hung, but they didn’t give up on us,” Holmes said. “So, from the bottom of my heart and my family’s heart, I just want to say thank you.”

Williams, Chief of Trials Joseph Tucker and Assistant District Attorney Adele Krieger prosecuted the case, with support from Victim Witness Advocate Elizabeth Herron and Investigator Elizabeth Garcia.

Tucker recognized the witnesses who came forward despite their fear and urged community members to speak up when they witness domestic violence.

“Domestic violence isn’t just a Them problem, it’s an US problem,” Tucker said.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026, in Section K of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

On Aug. 21, 2019, Tychelle Ridgley was one week away from giving birth when gunfire directed at her boyfriend, Melvin Boudreaux, struck her at their home in the 4700 block of Viola Street.

Ridgley and her unborn baby boy died. Boudreaux suffered multiple gunshot wounds and survived.

On Sept. 12, 2026, a jury found Zachery Holmes guilty on eight counts: second-degree murder, second-degree feticide, attempted first-degree murder, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal carrying of a weapon by a person previously convicted of domestic abuse battery, and obstruction of justice.

“The work we do here is important to make sure that the violence stops, that justice doesn’t happen on the streets of New Orleans, that people don’t take matters into their own hands,” Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Balasquide said. “Make sure that they can trust the courts, trust the system, and trust that justice can happen in the courthouse.”

Williams and Assistant District Attorneys Balasquide and Mitchell MacEachern represented the State. Victim Witness Advocate Melissa Lewis and Trial Assistant Erin Fuenning supported the prosecution.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2026, in Section F of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court.

At 11 years old, the victim reached out to her grandmother for help after being sexually assaulted by her own father. At 17, she took the witness stand and told a jury what he had done. Between those two moments were years of waiting, and a young survivor’s determination to be heard.

On Sept. 17, 2026, a jury found Edwin Martin guilty on all five counts: first-degree rape, attempted first-degree rape, attempted sexual battery of a child under 13, and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13.

The case began with the child’s disclosure and an immediate response from police and medical professionals. She received care at Children’s Hospital, and medical evidence, DNA testing and a forensic interview helped prosecutors establish what she had endured.

“Justice for this young survivor took years,” Chief Mary Glass said. “Children learn to trust the adults in their life, and that’s what every child deserves. In this case, the child had to put that trust into the hands of strangers, into all of us.”

Assistant District Attorney Kristen Butler said the child’s courage carried through the years it took to bring the case to trial.

“That courage and strength endured over the lengthy course of this prosecution, and the verdict that resulted is a reflection of her strength, and it shows what this community is capable of when children are in need,” Butler said.

Glass and Butler credited the coordinated work of NOPD, Children’s Hospital, the Child Advocacy Center and Louisiana State Police. Victim Witness Advocate Vickie Landry, Trial Assistant Kaitlyn Kite and Investigator David Benelli supported the prosecution.

The verdicts cannot bring two mothers home to their children or erase the abuse a young survivor endured. They establish accountability and affirm that these lives, these losses and the courage it took to seek justice matter.

“We cannot return Tychelle and her baby boy to their family. We cannot return Johnshane to her two little girls,” Williams said. “But we can stand with them. We can fight for them. And we can make certain that when someone commits an act of extraordinary violence against another human being in this city, the justice system does not look away.”

Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office
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