'Body found may be missing woman' 11.13.07

Body found may be missing woman
The Associated Press

BAY ST. LOUIS — Authorities believe a body found Saturday in tall grass near a power line clearing is that of a woman who has been missing since Aug. 3.
Dozens for volunteers joined the search Saturday for Brandi Hawkins Laurent, a 29-year-old mother of two who was reported missing by her husband.
The Sun Herald newspaper reported Saturday a positive identification has not been made. However, sources told the paper the body was tentatively identified from tattoos. Laurent had tattoos on her back and on both legs.
Experts from the state crime lab headed to the scene in Hancock County. Dental records and DNA identifications will be used to make a positive identification and an autopsy will be performed.
"We won't know much more until we get an autopsy," said Investigator Rita Blaize-Watson of the Hancock County Sheriff's Department.
Laurent's husband, Leo Laurent, told investigators he and his wife had argued before she left their home on foot in a remote area. He said she left with only the clothes she was wearing.
The body was found Saturday by a small party of searchers on horseback about 10 a.m., off Road 528 in the Fenton-Dedeaux Road area.
The riders were part of a search organized by Texasequusearch, an organization from Texas know for it's ability to find missing people.
The body was found about a mile from where Laurent lived.
"We found her about where we thought we would," said Cindy Wisdom, the search commander for Texasequusearch.
The disappearance of Brandi Laurent had changed before noon from an official missing person case to a possible murder.

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