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By Tiffany Craig Special Assignment Reporter

M50o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr Citronelle Murder Victim’s Family Talks to News 5

Published: Thu, October 11, 2007 - 7:26 pm
Last Updated: Friday, October 12, 2007 - 6:16 pm

Tiffany Craig

The family of a murder victim talks exclusively to News 5 about the son and brother they lost. Stephen Perret was found shot to death August 17th in a truck in Citronelle.
Reporter Tiffany Craig travels to Loranger, Louisiana to meet Perret's family. They tell a story of heartbreak and desperation. They want justice.

Day and night they wonder why was Stephen Perret killed. Stephen Perret Senior fights back tears with every word. "I don't sleep at night trying to figure this out. What did my son do?" Perret Sr. says his son left Louisiana after Katrina and settled in Citronelle this year. "My son always helped anybody and everybody no matter where he lived." Known by his family as O'Neal, the youngest Perret son called home the day he was promoted at Vulcan Industrial Services in Mount Vernon. "He said daddy, they want me to be the manager! I'm excited but I don't know. It's a big deal. Its one of these things you have to do for yourself and your family."

But just a few weeks later, Perret was found shot to death in his bosses truck… leaving behind a wife and three kids. His older brother Shawn Perret knew how he needed to help. "Even after my brother's dead, he still needs me. He wants me take care of his family and make sure their safe."

So far, the only known suspect is his boss and neighbor, Mike Crocker. Crocker is accused of stealing money from the company and cutting out his own tongue the day after attending Perret's funeral. Perret Sr. says his suspicions are up. "If someone was to tell me Mike did it at first, I couldn't believe it. Now that more evidence is coming out and more stories not truthful, I have my doubts."

That's why this family, torn by emotion agreed to be interviewed. The Perret's need answers. Shawn says getting those answers is consuming all of them. "His family can't move on until the person that does this is brought to justice."

Perret Sr. says he has something to say to his son's killer. "What did he do to you that made you take his life? He may have known something but was it worth his life? You know. Was it worth his life?

We also learned from the family that Perret had an interesting conversation with an aunt this summer. He reportedly told her that if something ever happened to him, his work would have the answers.

Mike Crocker is the only publicly-known suspect in the murder of his employee and neighbor Stephen Perret. Crocker was released from Mobile Metro jail. He's charged with stealing more than 200 thousand dollars from Vulcan Industrial Services in Mount Vernon. Investigators believe he also cut out his own tongue and lied to police while trying to cover up the crime.

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I have also received an e-mail to my personal address my response to that is: this person must be scared to say what they want here on this public site or they are hiding something or just trying to keep us from voicing our opinion. I appreciate each and every comment i feel that each person has the right to voice their views as well as I do. So to this person if you cant keep it out here keep it to yourself.

Posted by small-town on 11/10/07 - 1:00 am • Report Abuse

This is the email that I received from someone at my email address. I have already sent it to WKRG and they are well aware of it. I thought I might share it with you all. And to the Person that sent it to me......WHATEVER!!!!! Apparently if she/he ever read “Judge not lest ye be Judged” then why is she judging me?? I have the email address and would love to respond back to them, but I think this is getting the picture out to her......Look it up.....Freedom of Speech......enjoy the email!!!!! :::::
“Lady, i have no clue as to who you are and to be honest, I pray I never meet you. IF you are a christian, have you never read “Judge not lest ye be Judged” you have put mike crocker in the electric chair since day one. Has it ever crossed your mind that he is NOT guilty. I have known Donna and Mike for years, and I can assure you that neither one of them are capable of hurting another human being let alone themselves. I just want to see what your and others response is going to be when Mike is found not guilty, because he is. Lady I pray for you and some of you BLOG friends daily.”

Posted by Citronellemomma on 11/02/07 - 11:57 am • Report Abuse

The person knows good and well who she is, she doesnt need to do that anymore. We have the right to have this “Forum Discussion” and speak how we think. We have been speaking our thoughts since day one......so lady dont judge me.

Posted by Citronellemomma on 10/30/07 - 9:02 am • Report Abuse

No more dangerous that someone else who has committed a crime. You are not the only victims. This is not a pen pal website. You don’t need to write letters via this outlet.

Thousands are killed each and every day, someone wanted him gone so he’s gone. If he was to stay around for longer then he would be here.

Posted by Del on 10/30/07 - 8:55 am • Report Abuse

I dont know if anyone else has been responded too.....I have just received an email to my work address from someone just dogging me, I thought I had freedom of speech in America. So to the lady that sent me the email.....WHATEVER!!!!!

Posted by Citronellemomma on 10/30/07 - 8:42 am • Report Abuse

Outsider I agree with you about a spouse would exhibit behaviors that would raise my curiosity. I would also know if my spouse was involved in something so serious. The behavior would tell me in a minute. I feel so sorry for the Perret family. His father is right, there is nothing worth taking a life over! The person who did this had to know he’d be caught up with eventually. If Crocker did indeed do this then he has destroyed many lives all for nothing. Money is indeed the root of a lot of evil in this world. My prayers are with the Perret family. I am so sorry that this has happened and will continue to pray for you!

Posted by interested on 10/12/07 - 10:01 am • Report Abuse

I agree with what Oneals father said “What did he do to you that made you take his life? He may have known something but was it worth his life?” Man, Who ever did this has a lot of paying to do.
I am a bit confused...I read his wife worked at Vulcan too? I heard she was home when the attack occured. What does she have to say about all this? Did her husband exhibit weird behaviors while all this was happening? If my spouse had killed someone and cut out thier own tongue I think there would be some behavioral signs that would make me concerned ( if I did not already know what was happening). Also what type of prescription and who’s name was on the bottle found on the roof of the house? I read above that Crocker is the only suspect? I thought the police had said before that more arrest were to follow when Crocker was arrested? Hard to keep up with all the different stories. I will say a special prayer at mass for the Perret family.

Posted by outsider on 10/12/07 - 9:32 am • Report Abuse

I am friends with Nikki and the kids, I met his family the night of O’Neal’s death. I hate that I had to meet them under those circumstances. I hope a nd pray for the Perret family. My heart will lay low under justice is served. Nikki and the kids, please understand that everyone at the golfcourse is praying for you and your family. We love and miss you guys. We understand why you left and dont blame you. The day is coming, justice will be served. And Nikki, I hope you get your time with the murder. I love ya’ll.

Posted by Citronellemomma on 10/12/07 - 8:49 am • Report Abuse

I am a (distant) member of O’Neal’s family. I remember “Nealie” as a polite, quiet young man, friendly and generally a happy person. There is no way to know what really happened. All I know is that the Perret family has lost a loving member who was respected by his family and all who knew him.

We owe it to O’Neal to not jump to conclusions that result in convicting the wrong man. When we use the laws of this nation to deprive a man of his liberty, we should dot every I and cross every T along the way. BUT… if the jury says Crocker did it, in my book he should get special circumstances because IF he did it, he did it to cover the commission of another crime. I don’t recall whether Alabama has the death penalty, but WHOEVER did this to “Nealie” needs to have fear in his heart for his eventual day of retribution.

To O’Neal’s family, you know me under another name, which I do not reveal in public forums. Please honor that preference. Shawn knows we watched his daughter when he went to the LSU game recently, and Jonathan knows the advice I gave him at his wedding rehearsal party: “Yes, dear!”

Posted by The_Doc_Man on 10/11/07 - 10:48 pm • Report Abuse

O’neal is the name family and friends in LA use but most who know him in the Mobile area call him Steve or Perret. A razor was found on the roof of crockers house along with some type of prescription bottle it was also said some type of razor (same type) was found in the house. My guess they will wait to charge crocker until they are closer to being ready to go to court. If they are not prepared they don’t want to take the chance of losing the case. Another post also claimed a sister-in-law and daughter were questioned in MS, don’t really know about that though.

Posted by yankee on 10/11/07 - 10:35 pm • Report Abuse