The Tragic Case of Mickey Shunick: Abduction, Murder, and a Killer's Confession

Disappearance of Mickey Shunick

• 💡 21-year-old University of Louisiana student Mickey Shunick vanished on May 19th, 2012, after a late-night bike ride from a friend's house.
• 💔 Her family reported her missing when she failed to return home for her brother's graduation, describing her as responsible and bright.
• 🔍 Initial investigations focused on Brettley, a friend Mickey was last seen with, but surveillance footage and his alibi cleared him as a suspect.

The White Pickup Truck and Investigation

• 🚗 Surveillance footage revealed a white Chevrolet pickup truck following Mickey's route home, becoming a key focus of the investigation.
• 🚲 Mickey's damaged bicycle was later found under the Whiskey Bay Bridge, suggesting a collision with a vehicle.
• 🕵️ A tip from Adam Deville, Mickey's boyfriend's brother-in-law, pointed towards Brandon Lever, who owned a similar white pickup truck.

Brandon Lever's Confession and Past Crimes

• 🚨 Brandon Lever was arrested, and his girlfriend, Barbara, was interviewed, revealing inconsistencies in his stories, including a fabricated stabbing incident in New Orleans.
• 💥 Evidence, including Brandon's truck being burned and his suspicious behavior, led detectives to believe he was responsible for Mickey's abduction and murder.
• ⚖️ Brandon eventually confessed to the murder of Mickey Shunick, detailing the events of that night, including hitting her with his truck and the subsequent struggle.
• 🔪 He also confessed to the 1999 murder of Lisa Anne Pate, whose body was found buried in a field.

Justice for Mickey Shunick

• 🕊️ A deal was struck with Brandon: he would reveal Mickey's burial location in exchange for the death penalty being taken off the table.
• 📍 Brandon led detectives to Mickey's burial site in a cemetery in Acadia Parish.
• 💔 Mickey's family found closure, though heartbroken, knowing she fought back against her attacker.
• ⛓️ Brandon pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and received two life sentences for the murders of Mickey Shunick and Lisa Pate.