UPDATED
Frankie Lee Crosby, 67, a member of the Washington Parish school board and a current candidate for Franklinton alderman, was found dead early Sunday morning.
Franklinton police officers who responded to a 911 call at Crosby's residence on Parker Street discovered him dead inside his pickup truck which was parked near the home.
Franklinton police chief Justin Brown said there is no evidence or information to indicate any foul play was involved.
In a written statement released to The Era-Leader on Tuesday morning (October 8), Brown wrote: “The Franklinton Police Department is in receipt of a preliminary toxicology and autopsy report only. Regarding the autopsy, the manner of death notes state, Pending Toxicology. In reference to the preliminary toxicology, the report showed cocaine and fentanyl.”
In addition to Franklinton police investigators, Louisiana State Police crime lab technicians and Louisiana State Police investigators are looking into the death. Calling in State Police crime lab technicians is not necessarily an indication of a crime but in fact this can be done simply to expand the resources available for the investigation.
Whether cocaine and fentanyl were in Crosby’s body in sufficient quantities to cause death will apparently be addressed in the final autopsy report. The preliminary autopsy report did not address that, simply stating that cocaine and fentanyl were present in his body at the time of the autopsy. However. fentanyl deaths have increased greatly in recent years, because it is a very powerful synthetic opioid.
Crosby was in his second term as a member of the school board, and he was also a candidate for alderman in the upcoming Franklinton election on Nov. 5.
In addition to his service on the school board, he was a frequent presence at Franklinton Council meetings and Parish Council meetings, offering comments and remarks on a regular basis.
Following the news of Crosby's death, the Washington Parish School System released this statement: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved school board member, Mr. Frankie Crosby. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Please join us in keeping them in your prayers as we honor his memory and the impact he made on our community."
