Baton Rouge man arrested for Covington murder

A 37-year old man with unknown ties to his victim was arrested early Tuesday for the murder of Ilena Lyons, who was the first murder victim in Covington this year.

Kevin Williams, 37, 4500 Sherwood Commons, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 1 a.m. Tuesday morning and charged with first-degree murder of Lyons four and a half days after her body was discovered. Williams had no local address and was believed to have been living on the streets.

Lyons’ landlord discovered her body at her residence July 10. She had suffered multiple blunt force traumas to her head “at least one week but less than three weeks before she was discovered,” according to Covington police spokesman Capt. Jack West.

An artist from New Orleans, Lyons had moved to Covington to escape crime.

She had only been in Covington a short time. Beth Fandal, a friend of Lyons’ for the past six years said, “I was shocked... This is just crazy.”

Williams was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of monetary instrument abuse (checks), and forgery. Other charges are pending, according to West. When Williams was apprehended, a search warrant for his body was issued and police were able to collect forensic evidence that linked Williams to the crime.

“Williams was unremorseful during the interview,” West said.

Police do not have a motive for the murder.

Williams has an extensive record including violence against women, attempted rape, possession of stolen property, as well as numerous counts of unauthorized entry of an uninhabited dwelling, monetary instrument abuse and forgery, according to a press release from the Covington Police Department. West said Williams’ record indicates Williams has committed crimes in Houma, Baton Rouge and St. Tammany Parish, and now Covington over a period of years.

West said that even though Williams has committed violent crimes against women, he has never been violent with police.

Fandal described Lyons as a working artist that loved to share information about her art and openings, including sending friends’ notices and clippings of her openings. Lyons was a unique and creative individual who showed regularly at Three Ring Circus in the Garden District in New Orleans.

“She was creative, eccentric and defiantly her own person. She stood out,” Fandal said.

Active in the art community in New Orleans, Lyons applied for many art grants and was always going to grant seminars, Fandal said.

Covington Police Chief Richard Palmisano credits the news media with helping police find Williams.

“I am so proud of our investigators in the case [Chief Detective Lt. Steve Short and investigators] didn’t even stop to eat or sleep until he was arrested,” West said.

Williams is being held at St. Tammany Parish Jail without bond because of the first-degree charge.