[Marquardt:] We're following breaking news. Baton Rouge police have made an arrest in the death of a beloved community activist. Police found Sadie Roberts Joseph's body in the trunk of her car. That was last week. An autopsy showed the 75-year-old civil rights icon died of suffocation and her death has been ruled a homicide. Just moments ago Baton Rouge police announced they now have a suspect in custody.
[Chief Murphy Paul, Jr., Baton Rouge Police:] Today the Baton Rouge police department arrested Ron Germane Bell and charged him with first degree murder for the homicide of Sadie Roberts-Joseph. We believe based on our investigation at this time that Ron Bell was a tenant in one of her rent houses. We believe that he was behind several months on his rent. We believe around $1,200 was owed for rent. We still don't have a complete solid motive at the time. And the motive is still under investigation.
[Marquardt:] C. Denise Marcelle is a Louisiana state lawmaker from the Baton Rouge area and has known Roberts-Joseph for years. And Pat McAllister-LeDuff is a niece of Sadie. Pat, let me first say that we are so sorry for your loss. And I would like to ask what your reaction is from the police there, that an arrest has been made in this homicide.
[Pat Mcallister-leduff, Niece Of Slain Activist Sadie Roberts-joseph:] It's a great relief, just to know that that part of the journey is over. That was the most important thing at that particular time, was just who did it, why, and where were you where are you? So that part we can sigh a little bit in terms of what actually happened and who did it.
[Marquardt:] Well it certainly doesn't ease any pain. But I imagine it does helps to start answering some of the questions that you may have. Do you know, Pat, the suspect or why he may have harmed your aunt, that we heard the police talking about rent and money?
[Mcallister-leduff:] Well, money is the root of all evil, so I would think that I would hate to think that I would be necessary to kill your landlord because you can't pay her. But it seems that that could very well have been the case.
[Marquardt:] And Denise, I want to know more about what Sadie meant to the Baton Rouge community. We know that she founded an African- American museum as well as a nonprofit organization against drugs and violence. But what did she mean to that community to her community?
[C. Denise Marcelle,  Louisiana State House:] Well first of all, she was an icon. She meant so much to this community, to so many different people. Young people, older people, just people. It's very hard to describe Sadie's reaction with the community because she was on every level. She was an activist. She was a historian. She was an amazing woman, and I'm certainly glad that someone's in custody for this crime. And the city is relieved at least that we have someone behind bars. And I certainly I want to thank the Baton Rouge community for coming together on this. It's very important to the family. I've been with the family for several days and it's a relief, but it's tough. It's going to be tough on them. We're continuing our prayers and certainly for our community.
[Marquardt:] Pat, we have heard that word icon used quite a bit. Not just by Denise but by a lot of people in that community. But you had a much more personal relationship of course with aunt. What do you want us all what do you want the world to know about her?
[Mcallister-leduff:] That she was all about peace. She was as an icon in the community and she was also an icon in our family. So she's always been the strength. She's always been the person that keeps you corrected. She's always been that person that will always want you to shoot for excellence. And so peace is what it's all about, coming together. Learning about each other. Having awareness of each contribution that's made to the nation by people, by the community and to embrace that. That's what she always said, embrace what each of us bring to the table. So that we all can get along, and there will be peace.
[Marcelle:] And we certainly want to highlight the museum and keep her legacy alive. So they're establishing a fund to do just that. And we're asking people from around the world to certainly support that effort as she has carried this museum on her back for many, many years. We're saddened by her death but we're glad that it is brought Baton Rouge together. And we certainly hoping that we're going to commit to keeping the museum alive and open. And so we're certainly looking for contributions to do that.
[Marquardt:] Well, peace and
[Mcallister-leduff:] She would want that. That's exactly what she would want.
[Marquardt:] Thank you for joining me this afternoon. Once again, Denise and Pat, I'm so sorry for your loss. Sadie sounded like an absolutely remarkable woman, thank you for coming on to tell us about her today.
[Marcelle:] And she was.
[Mcallister-leduff:] Thank you.
[Marcelle:] Thank you.
[Marquardt:] All right, we'll be back in a moment.