Hold My Sweet Tea
Where True Crime collides with chilling ghost stories and Southern folklore. Join us, sip sweet tea, and uncover shocking tales of murder, mystery, and the supernatural, all with a healthy dose of Southern charm and a touch of sass!
Hold My Sweet Tea
Ep. 18-Why Carol? The Unsolved Killing That Still Haunts Algiers, LA.
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The quiet neighborhood of Algiers, nestled across the Mississippi River from New Orleans' French Quarter, was shattered by gunfire on an October evening in 2017. Carol Lombard Ross - a 55-year-old grandmother, community pillar, and beloved "neighborhood mom" - lost her life in a hail of bullets outside her own home.
Carol embodied the spirit of community service that ran deep in her family's veins. Her brother Darren worked his way from deputy clerk to Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk. Her cousin Rudy organized groundbreaking civil rights sit-ins. Her sister-in-law Juana served as Louisiana's Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner before being elected New Orleans Magistrate. But Carol's contribution was equally powerful though less official - she was the watchful eye who encouraged children to stay in school, kept the neighborhood clean, and offered friendship to all who needed it.
That makes the violence that claimed her life all the more senseless. A white Ford F-150 truck pulled up on LaBeouf Street, and someone inside unleashed dozens of rounds that struck Carol multiple times. Despite neighbors rushing to her aid, she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. The question that haunts everyone who knew her remains: "Why Carol?"
Louisiana Senator Troy Carter, a family friend, put it perfectly: "It wasn't her being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's the criminal being in the wrong place." Despite bullet holes riddling several cars and a $5,000 reward from Crimestoppers, leads have been scarce, and this case remains unsolved years later.
Carol's story represents countless victims whose cases fade from headlines while their communities continue to grieve. If you have any information about this crime, please contact Crimestoppers at 1-877-903-STOP. You can remain anonymous and possibly bring long-overdue justice to a family and community who've waited far too long for answers.
https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/fatal-shooting-in-algiers-leaves-well-known-lombard-family-in-mourning/289-487576621
https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/woman-fatally-shot-in-algiers-on-monday-was-member-of-well-known-lombard-family/article_80cf2815-af04-5308-9dc1-3467917bdbc9.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nola/name/carol-ross-obituary?id=12469010
https://crimesolverscentral.com/homicide/10925
Carol Ross: The Neighborhood Mom
Speaker 1On a seemingly ordinary Monday night in October of 2017, a New Orleans community was shattered by a senseless act of violence. This is Hold my Sweet Tea. Hey, everybody.
Speaker 2I'm Holly and I'm Pearl and I thought his name was Warren.
Speaker 1My name isn't frickin' Warren. Oh, that introduction was great, right, right. So we are talking about the iconic cult classic Empire Records.
Speaker 2Because tomorrow is Rex Manning Day, rex.
Speaker 1Manning Day. Say no more, no, no more, right, if you guys know, you know it was, uh, like I said, iconic yeah, I mean, we brought it up in a, in a past episode when we were talking about the 80s movies and we kind of yeah and go working at blockbuster music, yeah, so yeah, it was.
Speaker 2I think if they were closing down I'd be like, yeah, bitch go I mean, they did close down Right. But I'm just saying, like I'm not, I wasn't about to try to save the record store we didn't say damn the man, save the empire. No, it was not damn the man, save the blockbuster.
Speaker 1Exactly.
Speaker 2No, no, because it ended up not being as cool as we thought, it was Not at all, you not being as cool as we thought it was Not at all.
Speaker 1You know TV, but if you haven't seen Empire Records? We had a young employee one year and we literally had to force him to go watch Empire Records because it is that good. And he watched it and he's like oh my God, I love that, I love that movie, yes. So you know, if you haven't watched it, you should definitely go watch it. And watch it on um april 8th, because that is the official rex manning day, and you're like who the hell is rex manning? You will see, yeah, he's a douchebaggery yes, he is, he absolutely is.
Speaker 2But the rest, I mean the movie's just great. Yeah, it really is absolutely and Absolutely.
Speaker 1And it has my Zodiac twin in it, Renee Zellweger.
Speaker 2It do. Sugar high, sugar high Yep.
Speaker 1Shock me, shock me, shock me with that deviant behavior Indeed.
Speaker 2Yeah, shinedo rebellion, that's right Right.
Speaker 1Which is why, like you know, in the Craft, like Rachel, what's her name? Ah, I can't remember her last name, but she had to wear a wig in that movie because she shaved her head in Empire Records. So that's why her hair looked weird through the whole movie, because it was a wig.
Speaker 2Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1Because you know the things actors do for their roles, yeah. So the girl who played sarah yeah, sarah, sarah, and then pearl and I also, speaking of movies found out that romeo and michelle's high school reunion is making a part two, and I am there for it. I cannot wait.
Speaker 2Every time we bring up Romy and Michelle, I remember your niece going to Walmart with us and having them page us. Yeah, romy and Michelle.
Speaker 1Romy and.
Speaker 2Michelle, I was like oh, my God, wendy.
Speaker 1But Pearl and I have already decided when it. When it comes out, you know, in the theater we're going to dress up as business women, and when it comes out, you know, in the theater, we're going to dress up as businesswomen and bring post-its. And bring post-its Because we have to. And if you haven't seen that one, where have you been living? Under a rock, a big old rock, so go watch that one too Crawl out from your cave Exactly and watch all the silly stuff.
Speaker 2So you know we mustn't dwell. No, not today. We can't. Not on Rex Manning Day.
History of Algiers, Louisiana
Speaker 1Absolutely not. So I guess we're just going to jump right in this today. So today I'm taking it back home, we're bringing it back, we're going to head down to Algiers, louisiana. So you know, we know where Algiers is. It is a community nestled on the West Bank which you know, according to the West Bank people, is the best bank of the Mississippi River. It's directly across from, like, the French Quarter, cbd, like the whole area down there. So if you're standing on the riverfront you can see outgiers point straight across. It's a historic neighborhood and it's the only part of the city of new orleans located on the west bank. So you know a little cool piece of history.
Speaker 1I'm going to go into a little history of this because the information about my case it was a little short. So I just, you know, want to get y'all a feel of where how Algiers came about. So Algiers was established in 1719 as a plantation, not a neighborhood, which it is now. It was first used as a location for the city's powder magazine and then as a holding area for the newly arrived enslaved Africans. Decades later it became a port of call for the displaced Cajuns which came down from Canada. So those were like the French Canadians. And then they were like oh, we don't like you. And then they all like, ended up down in the New Orleans, louisiana South area. So that's where the that's where the Cajun culture comes in.
Speaker 2Speaking of Cajuns and culture, I just want to reiterate to the world that if you want to get some really cutesy tattoos, it's Justin.
Speaker 1Miette, yes, I pronounced it wrong on the last episode, but you know, names down here are crazy, you just don't know. You can look at it and go. Do I pronounce it this way, or do I pronounce?
Speaker 2it that way and literally he said that he's Kunas to the core.
Speaker 1There you go, there you go and you know that's another culture that comes in Kunas.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, so he is at Monsters or Monster Inc. I didn't want to say Monsters Incorporated.
Speaker 2It's not a Disney movie, but it is next to daycare, Right it is next to a daycare, if you got some kids you need to have watched while you get your tattoo. Very convenient spot.
Speaker 1Take Boo over there, leave Mike Wazowski and go get you a tattoo. But yeah, he did an awesome job and my tattoo is healing nicely. Mine too. I had one little rough spot and I've been putting my stuff on there and it's healing nicely. So, yeah, lovely, they look great.
Speaker 1So this region of the city was a French colonial encampment, originally managed by La Page du Prat, on which cabins housed the enslaved. So they would bring, you know, these people here. They enslaved them and put them in these little kind of shacks here and there. According to geographer Richard Campanella, phd, this area was used as a warehouse, workshop, lumber mill and a farm in service of the principal colony across the river, which was, you know, the city of New Orleans. So this is where all the other stuff went on, and then they just brought it over.
Empire Records & Rex Manning Day
Speaker 1Its primary use, however, was a depository for captive Africans recently arrived from Senegambia I think I said that right and then, as well as the Congo regions. Before then, it was known as the company plantation. The site in the 1720s had more than 30 cabins used for the temporary sheltering of slaves until they were sold to the colonists, or for their permanent housing, if they were owned by the company itself, as were 154 people at one point making present day Algiers Point. So that's kind of where they were all at, because it was adjacent to the greater New Orleans area right there, so it was easier to get greater New Orleans area right there, so it was easier to get them back across the river. Algiers was once an independent town but it was annexed by the city of New Orleans on March 14, 1870. It is known as the 15th Ward and a place where generations of families have put down roots. So New Orleans has different wards throughout the city, so this is the 15th ward.
Speaker 2Which is so weird to say yeah.
Speaker 1I know it's set up in wards. It's crazy Like you would think of a ward like a mental hospital. You know most New Orleans is a mental hospital.
Speaker 2That's what I was about to say.
Speaker 1I was like hold up A little crazy, but it's fun crazy yeah it's fun crazy.
Speaker 2Some of it's really bad crazy.
Speaker 1I don't think you get that everywhere.
Speaker 2I think it just sticks out there a lot because you know it's such a big touristy area and and new orleans.
Speaker 1People have their own way about things and yeah, that's why I mean, that's why people come down and love the city that you either come down to drink and party and get into some debauchery and have some fun. You come down for like how frozen in time everything is and the beautiful architecture, and that's what I fell in love with yeah, the first time I went down there I was just like amazed at everything and I'm like oh, look at this, oh, look at that, oh, my gosh, look at this.
Speaker 2You know, but you know cemeteries and the cemeteries oh, and the cemeteries.
Speaker 1The cities of the dead are amazing, but you know, and then there is the occasional, like drinking and debauchery.
Speaker 2When you go down and you have to Crime.
Speaker 1And crime. Yeah, crime is everywhere.
Speaker 2Absolutely Just a little more in some places than others, but you know.
The Night of the Shooting
Speaker 1This is like these families came here and this is where just generation after generation grew up and they put down their roots and they made Algiers their home. So this is where we get into Carol's case, and today we are doing Carol Lombard Ross. This is still, to this day, an unsolved case, and I'm sure her family would appreciate any tips or information of who did this horrific thing to her. So on October 30th of 2017, around 7.20 pm, the sun was already setting. It was a pretty quiet residential area along LaBeouf Street when, like just suddenly, out of nowhere, the air was like ripped apart by the sound of gunfire. And not just like a few shots, mind you, like it was just like a barrage of like 16, 20, like dozens of rounds Like raining bullets, like raining bullets, like raining bullets I got you.
Speaker 1And you and I have heard that before, and yeah, yeah, because you're like what is that noise? And then you're like oh, okay.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1Yeah, it's that noise, that noise.
Speaker 1So you know, when the echoes of these shots like like faded, like a beloved mother of the community lay dying, and this was carol lombard ross. She was 55 years old. She was a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a daughter, but to her neighbor she was much more. She was the neighborhood mom, which, you know, just makes it so sad because we've all known like that neighborhood mom, like that would just bend over backwards, go out of her way. She looked out for, like the kids in the neighborhood, she would go out and just like pick up trash because it people would drop stuff all over the place and keep things cleaned up. She was a friend to her neighborhood that people knew, they knew they could go to her. She also would like encourage the kids to do well in school, like it's really important for you to stay in school.
Speaker 2She would, you know, give them these little talks and she was just a super sweet lady it reminds me of the lady in our neighborhood when I was young, like after we moved, of the lady in our neighborhood when I was young, like after we moved to louisiana. There was a older lady.
Speaker 1She used to like always make the little dixie cup ice cream.
Speaker 2Oh yeah, things with the you know like she would use like hawaiian punch or something yeah and they would just do it in the little dixie cups and she'd give those out to the kids in the neighborhood all the time yeah, see, that's so sweet and this is.
Speaker 1This is the person that Carol was. She was just a really giving, caring person and this is why this came as a shock to everybody that somebody would gun her down in front of her home Crazy. So it was reported by Troy Carter that Carol was that stereotypical kind of neighborhood mom who looked out for young people, tried to keep them on the straight and narrow. Now this is Louisiana Senator Troy Carter. He was a lifelong friend of the Ross Lombard family. Carol's family y'all they were. They were a pillar of Algiers Public servants, activists, people deeply invested in their community. Carol's family y'all. They were a pillar of Algiers Public servants, activists, people deeply invested in their community.
Speaker 1Her cousin, rudy Lombard a civil rights legend he organized one of the first anti-segregation lunch counter sit-ins at McCroy's Five and Dime on Canal Street in New Orleans. Her brother, darren Lombard he worked his way from deputy clerk to second city court clerk. Then he was elected as Orleans Parish criminal court clerk. Darren gained a reputation for his extensive work in the community. He also participated in philanthropy, worked with the Silverback Society, four Kids Foundation, and he was also part of the Mardi Gras crew Legion of Mars, in addition to his many other roles in public service. So, like this, family has deep, deep roots in the New Orleans area.
Speaker 1They're like out there doing things and her sister-in-law, juana it's J-U-A-N-A, I guess we would say it Juana Lombard, the commissioner of Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, and then she was elected New Orleans Magistrate. So just in everything. So everybody knew the Lombard Ross family. They have been around for generations. Lots of public service, but on that Monday night, family ties, community service, none of that mattered. So it was said that a white Ford F-150 pickup truck was the one that pulled up to the 300 block of LaBeouf Street and someone inside opened fire. Carol, who was standing outside of her home, was struck multiple times. Her neighbors, linda and Marva, rushed out, finding Carol lying face down. Marva said that her breathing was shallow and she was moaning. Marva said that her breathing was shallow and she was moaning. Carol was then rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. She unfortunately succumbed to her injuries and passed away. The question that has echoed through Algiers, through the Ross Lombard family, through Troy Carter's voice, was simply why Carol?
Search for Justice Continues
Speaker 2Yeah, you would expect and I don't mean this in any negative way but you would expect that to happen to somebody else, like her other family members that are like part of the court system or part of whatever Right, like if they were mad at something that one of them did.
Speaker 1But why, Carol? Why target a woman who was dedicated her life to her community?
Speaker 2yeah you know, like she didn't have any like position of power no, I guess, is the best way to put that, so it doesn't make sense so nopd, you know they speculated she might have been caught in the crossfire of a gun battle.
Speaker 1But was it really random or was there something more? The NOPD, under the superintendent Michael Harrison, appealed to the public for information. They found bullet holes in several cars on the street. It was, like you know, a stark testimony to the ferocity of the attack. I mean, it wasn't like pow pow, it was just a barrage of bullets and shots.
Speaker 2Was the truck moving while it was shooting?
Speaker 1It didn't say it was moving, but I would think so if it was like up the block.
Speaker 2Yeah, because when you say several cars, and I'm thinking well, were they driving while they were doing that, or was he?
Speaker 1stopping and it was just like a sweep, like he was just boom, boom, boom, boom boom right, just kind of stuck his arm out yeah, yeah, it didn't really give any details on like how it just, you know, said it was the, the truck and stuff that had pulled up. So I would think it stopped and then the gunman just opened fire and like sprayed.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1But the leads on the case were scarce. So as the days turned into weeks like questions lingered unanswered, carol's funeral at All Saints Catholic Church was a testament to the impact she had on the community. You know this community was reeling from the loss of a pillar, a community mom. A $5,000 reward was offered by Crimestoppers, but still there's silence. To this day the murder of Carol Lombard Ross remains unsolved. It's just a senseless act of violence that robbed the Algiers area of. You know.
Speaker 2And her family and her family Family, yeah.
Speaker 1She was just a bright light in everybody's life. So this is, you know, a reminder of the fragility of life. Even the most close-knit communities, tragedy happens.
Speaker 2Yeah, it's so weird to think, though, like it's hard to believe it would be random, like why would you pick that street, why would you pick that house did were you just driving around and you went oh look, there's somebody outside yeah, and let me just, you know, stop, and this is a good random, you know lady, and stuff like wrong place, wrong time for her.
Speaker 1She was 55, she was just getting her her second wind and everything, like I'm. I'm getting up that area too and like I couldn't imagine, like yeah, that's crazy.
Speaker 2Like this, this woman who has done everything for her community and just and I think there's not really a ton, like you said, not a ton of information on this, also crazy right also goes back to what you were talking about in the last episode.
Speaker 1Like it's so hard to find anything and I went through newspaper article after newspaper article and it was the same thing over and over and over that's reported on this and it's like can we?
Speaker 2you know, it's insane to me, like like I said before, that any person of color it, you don't find anything like yeah, it doesn't matter if they're african-american indigenous indians, yeah, asians, it's really hard you literally can't find stuff at all like it is the biggest challenge, but getting it out here on the podcast, you know, and saying stuff about it.
Speaker 1Maybe somebody's listening and somebody knew something or knew somebody and yeah, you know can talk.
Speaker 2So you know we'll, we'll do more of these, because and I understand, like holding it, what information you do have, because it very well could, like in this instance, just be that there really isn't a lot for the police to go on. So what little tiny bit they've got, they're keeping it to themselves because right, it's all they got yeah and so I get that. I just still feel like they there, there needs to be more like do a little better. These things need to be reported on a little better.
Speaker 1Yes, More information. Interview these families.
Speaker 2You know, find out everything you can, even if all you're putting out, there is more about that person and why we should be completely just up in arms about this continuing to happen in these communities.
Speaker 1Yeah, and that's why, like it would say things about her, her family, just like oh, this one, you know, advocated for this one, this one, this one. I went in and looked those people up so I could tell you what they did and how their impact on this community has and how you know, everyone should be, outraged that there isn't more right there isn't more. There isn't more Right. There isn't more being done.
Speaker 2There isn't more being reported.
Speaker 1Right. So this is a way for us to help advocate for people who don't have a lot of information. So bringing this to light. But Troy Carter, he said that you know you hate to use the adage that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Speaker 2Which is what I said.
Speaker 1Right, because she's on her, she's in her yard for crying out loud, but like, unfortunately, crime in New Orleans has found its way into all the wrong places.
Speaker 2So you. It wasn't her being in the wrong?
Speaker 1place at the wrong time. No, she was in her home. It's the criminal being in the wrong place at the wrong time. No, she was in her home.
Speaker 2It's the criminal being in the wrong place at the wrong time, right.
Speaker 1And like this. You know, this story hits close to home. It reminds us that violence can touch anyone anywhere, and it leaves us asking, just like Troy Carter said why Carol, why anyone? Why would you pull up and just randomly shoot somebody? I don't get it, but if you have any information about the murder of Carol Lombard Ross, please reach out to Crime Stoppers in the greater New Orleans area. You can remain anonymous. You don't have to tell your name, so it's not like somebody's going to get you for saying something, but every little bit helps. And that number is 1-877-903-STOP or 504-822-1111. And there's still, you know, a $5,000 reward if you know anything.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean you give them some information that leads to whoever did this. And yeah, easy money, absolutely.
Speaker 1But also you're helping her, her family.
Speaker 2Her family and the whole community honestly because who's to say, this person didn't go randomly shoot up some other neighborhood, right, I mean, they got away with one.
Speaker 1Right, I mean you know and there's I'm sure there's lots of white Ford F-150s around that time.
Speaker 2Oh my gosh, yeah, you oh my gosh.
Speaker 1Yeah, you know how many. I'm sure there's cameras on that bridge that go across to Algiers, so maybe you could narrow it down a little bit. Get some license plate numbers, but this was also in 2017. Who knows what they had then or didn't have then they did, but like technology evolves every day.
Speaker 2Yeah, I remember like our whole situation. We had camera footage of that sign getting hit, yeah, but it was still kind of hard to see, like to make out details.
Speaker 2Like you knew, it was like that was also a ford right f-150, but y'all narrowed it down and found out who it was but it was like, luckily it had some distinguishing features that made it different from everything else, Like if this was just some random white Ford work truck. They all look the same, they're like stock and they look the same. I mean the one in our camera footage for that situation was like had bumpers put on it that are aftermarket and different rims and stuff like that.
Speaker 1this was y'all's business and somebody you know plowed down their business sign in the front of their business. So yeah, I said business a lot. I'm so aware we're not going to be specific because once we we worked out everything with this person we promised not to Settled out of court?
Speaker 2Yeah, and we promised to kind of keep it between us, but I'm not saying any names, right? So here we are, but it occurred and cameras helped us, yeah, but in this case it could help, but it also could not help if it's, like I said, just a plain Jane.
Speaker 1Yeah, it just was like a white Ford F-150, not even like a super cab, not even that, you know just a stock Ford F-150.
Speaker 2Crazy. Yeah so there's tons of those, so you know if anybody knows anything anybody has heard any little whispers or words or anything.
Speaker 1Call crime stoppers yeah, tell somebody get your, get your cash reward.
Speaker 2But that was that was my case for the day, so always makes me feel like, because it's like all the unsolved stuff and it's. It's cool and fun to do solved whatever, but it doesn't do what putting these out there does.
Speaker 1Yeah, and we'll definitely have her picture up and everything, because when I was scrolling through cases, sometimes a picture will catch me and her picture definitely caught me, catch me and her picture definitely caught me and I was like oh, light to the heart, because you can tell just by looking at her.
Speaker 2She is the neighborhood mom. Yeah, just got that sweetest person, face person.
Speaker 1Yes, absolutely. So I was like, oh, I'm, I started reading and I started going more into it and I was like, oh, yes, I'm doing this for Carol yeah for sure.
Speaker 2Even if it's yeah short, at least it's done exactly. We got some the word out there. I want to take a moment to just say the words chicken Voldemort because he asked me are y'all going to keep talking about me in?
Speaker 1every episode. So, yeah, what you couldn't do about it didn't he give you permission to say his real name? He did and maybe one day I'll reveal it right, just gonna have to keep listening if you want to know what my brother's name is that's right, and he's got all of his work friends listening to us. So yeah, he does.
Speaker 2We're so appreciative of y'all and he came in and rescued me and my daughter in the middle of the night when her truck broke down. So you know, props to him, thank you thanks. Chicken voldemort he's good for something I said. Not all where.
Final Thoughts & Contact Info
Speaker 2Not not all heroes wear capes and he's like he tells his wife about it, like bro said. But I was like be proud of yourself because I'm glad he he showed up because we would have been there forever if not stranded. We hope you enjoyed this episode. I I know we didn't act like straight fools very long, but you know we hope you guys have a good Rex Manning day tomorrow. Yes, you know, run around telling everybody that so they can look at you crazy, because half of them probably won't know either, right, but we post it on our Facebook, so we'll make sure, right?
Speaker 1And it's on streaming channels, I'm sure, because it is Rex Manning Day. Yeah, if anything, just go watch it.
Speaker 2They usually do start playing it when it gets closer to the day so you can find it somewhere, but our theme music is created by Patti Salzetta. You can find us on all the socials. If you have a case, a ghost story, some Southern folklore, you just want to say, hey, what up Send us an email.
Speaker 1Somebody please email us or message us.
Speaker 2Steeped at wholemysweetdcom. We pay for that Right. So it's like not getting emails in our box that we pay for because it's a business email, Like send us an email Just if it's to say I sent you an email. Yeah, send me the word test, right. Right Is this thing on? It's just crazy. But yeah, again, find us on all social media Steeped at HoldMySweetTeacom, use it, use it.
Speaker 1Yeah, y'all you know use it, live it, love it. Whatever. That was a quote from Jawbreaker. What did she say? Live it, love it.
Speaker 2I get that song stuck in my head instead and I'm like I you're asking the wrong girl because I can't get past the music.
Speaker 1Right, that was another cult classic also, so you should go watch jawbreaker. But um, you know, you guys stay safe out there and hold. My sweet tea is a drunken bee production, and just because we're dipping doesn't mean y'all can't keep sipping.
Speaker 2Thank you you.