BOSTON — Nearly two years after the shocking murder of 23-year-old Jassy Correia, there is still no decision if federal prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty against Louis Coleman, the man accused of kidnapping and killing her.
Prosecutors allege Coleman picked up Correia outside a nightclub in Boston’s theatre district in February 2019 at closing time. The two did not know each other.
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Surveillance video recorded hours later allegedly shows Coleman carrying Correia’s lifeless body into his Providence, R.I. apartment. Days later, Correia’s body was found in the trunk of his car during a traffic stop in Delaware.
Louis Coleman is charged with federal kidnapping resulting in a death, which carries a possible death penalty sentence. Coleman was not present for a final pre-trial conference before a Judge Magistrate at Boston Federal Court on Tuesday.
The issue of the death penalty was never mentioned in the brief hearing.
The Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. must approve any death penalty prosecution at the request of a District U.S. Attorney. Boston U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling has not yet made that request in Coleman’s case.
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At this point, it might be too late.
President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn into office on January 20 and the new president may appoint a new Boston U.S. Attorney who may have a different view of the death penalty.
There is no indication when the Boston U.S. Attorney’s office will signal its intention on whether it will seek the death penalty for Coleman. Louis Coleman continues to be held on no bail.
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