Beaumont Elderly Man Arrested for Murder of 74-year-old Woman

An incident unfolded on Thursday, September 14, 2023, when officers responded to a call at 3030 French Rd., revealing the lifeless body of 74-year-old Peggie Ann Pier, a Beaumont resident, in her apartment. The initial cause and manner of her death were shrouded in uncertainty, prompting authorities to order an autopsy.

However, the situation took a grim turn on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 3:30 PM when investigators were notified by morgue personnel that Peggie Ann Pier’s demise might have been due to unlawful actions. A preliminary autopsy report subsequently classified her death as a homicide.

Detectives, Patrol officers, and the Jefferson County Crime Lab collaborated in executing an evidentiary search warrant at 3030 French Rd. In addition, crucial evidence and surveillance footage emerged, pointing to a suspect, 66-year-old Beaumont resident Leonard Paul Thompson.

With the aid of on-duty SWAT personnel, a second evidentiary search warrant was executed at Leonard Paul Thompson’s residence. During the operation, Thompson was taken into custody on unrelated city warrants, and multiple items of evidentiary value were recovered from his apartment.

Following an extensive interview with Thompson, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Murder, with a bond set at $800,000, signed by Judge Collins. Leonard Paul Thompson now faces this serious charge and is currently booked into the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.

The success of this investigation was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Jefferson County Crime Lab, ID specialists, and the dedicated patrol and SWAT personnel who contributed to resolving this disturbing case.