Sex offender Brandon Lavergne arrested for murder and kidnapping of Louisiana student Mickey Shunick

A registered sex offender has been booked on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the disappearance last May of a Louisiana college student, authorities said.

Brandon Scott Lavergne, 33, was booked Thursday night on first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping charges by police in Lafayette, where University of Louisiana student Mickey Shunick went missing May 19.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidrozsaid the arrest came as his department helped Lafayette police search Lavergne's residence for evidence. The search continued Thursday night.

The sheriff had no details on what was found. Lafayette police have released no details. Police have scheduled a 1pm Friday news conference to discuss an arrest in the case.

It was not immediately clear if Lavergne has an attoey.

The rural St. Landry address where the search was conducted is listed as the address of Lavergne on the state's sex offender website.

The website says Lavergne was convicted in 2000 of aggravated oral sexual battery. He was released in 2008.

Shunick was last seen shortly before 2am on May 19, days before her 22nd birthday.

Last seen: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette student had left a friend's house to ride her bicycle home

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette student had left a friend's house to ride her bicycle home.

Her bicycle was found eight days later in a remote, swampy area under a highway bridge in Iberville Parish, about 25 miles from the spot where she was last seen.

Continued search: The case engulfed the entire area and continues to absorb attention

 

Empty trail: Her bicycle was found eight days later in a remote, swampy area under a highway bridge in Iberville Parish, about 25 miles from the spot where she was last seen

Soon after her disappearance, Lafayette police released video taken about the time she went missing. It showed her cycling on a Lafayette street around 1.45am on May 19.

Investigators said at the time that they were seeking information about a pickup truck seen on the video. The sex offender website shows a white 2011 Chevrolet Silverado under vehicles linked to Lavergne.