Ian Kersting, a 34-year-old Assistant District Attorney (DA) for Orleans Parish who specialized in sexual assault cases, was found dead inside his office on Saturday evening, January 4, 2024, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to New Orleans police.
Police discovered Kersting at the Orleans Parish DA’s office building at 619 South White Street, just north of Bourbon Street, around 9 p.m. Emergency medical services pronounced him dead at the scene.
“The Orleans Parish DA’s Office family suffered a terrible tragedy Saturday night,” the office said. “Assistant District Attorney Ian Kersting was a beloved member of our office, and we send our love and deepest condolences to his family.”
As a key member of the office’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) unit, Kersting worked alongside New Orleans Police Department detectives to investigate and prosecute sex crimes through DNA evidence analysis. The SAKI program, established to address previously untested sexual assault kits, has been instrumental in bringing justice to numerous victims in the New Orleans area.
Throughout his tenure, Kersting built a reputation for handling complex sexual assault cases. In March 2024, he played a crucial role in securing a conviction for attempted first-degree rape and indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13. “In a recent win for justice, the joint efforts of ADA Michelle Jones (SVU) and Ian Kersting (SAKI), alongside Investigator Ronnie Puigh (SVU), Project Manager Sydney Houlemard (SVU), and Trial Assistant Daphne Carroll (SVU), led to a significant verdict,” the Orleans Parish DA’s office stated.
One of Kersting’s most notable achievements came in November 2022 when he served as lead prosecutor in the high-profile murder case against Anthony Jones. The case involved the 2016 killing of Renata Vaughn in New Orleans’ 7th Ward neighborhood. Evidence presented at trial showed that Vaughn was stabbed 72 times with a flathead screwdriver in front of her children before Jones set her house on fire. The prosecution secured convictions for second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
DA Jason Williams praised the young prosecutor’s work, stating, “I am grateful for the hard work of two of my youngest prosecutors, Constance Tullier and Ian Kersting, as well as Victim/Witness Advocate Vickie Landry and former NOPD Detective Bruce Brueggeman on this difficult case.”
Kersting joined the DA’s office shortly after his admission to the Louisiana State Bar in October 2020. During his three-year tenure, he worked on numerous high-profile cases and was known for his dedication to victims of sexual assault. His colleagues praised his commitment to justice and his ability to handle sensitive cases professionally and compassionately.
The DA’s office announced the closure of its facilities on Monday, January 6, to provide staff access to grief and trauma counselors while initiating a comprehensive review of support services available to staff members who handle traumatic cases. The office expressed gratitude to the local legal community, noting the “extraordinary compassion and humanity” shown by judges and Orleans Public Defenders during this challenging time. The office emphasized its commitment to maintaining mental health resources for prosecutors and support staff who regularly deal with challenging criminal cases. Operations resumed on Tuesday, January 7.
The New Orleans Police Department’s Major Offense Log documented the incident, and investigators processed the scene according to standard departmental procedures. The building’s security protocols and after-hours access policies are being reviewed in the standard investigation process.
