Actor Dwight Henry, who rose to prominence with his debut performance in the Oscar-nominated 2012 movie ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’, is facing scrutiny over a murder.
Prosecutors are questioning why the baker-turned-actor avoided charges in connection with a 2006 New Orleans killing.
Henry was arrested eight years ago in connection with a death by stabbing, but was released without charge, Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman said.
"Our office pulled the file and it wasn't immediately apparent to us for what reason the case was refused," Bowman said, adding that the charging decision was made by a previous administration that was less aggressive in prosecuting violent crime.
Prosecutors have no timeline for when they will decide whether to charge Henry in connection with the killing, Bowman said, adding that there is no statute of limitations for murder in Louisiana.
Bowman declined to identify the victim, reported by the New Orleans Advocate newspaper as Leroy Paige, who was stabbed to death outside an apartment in the Bywater neighborhood on February 5, 2006, on Super Bowl on Sunday.
The newspaper brought the eight-year-old killing to light in the wake of Henry being sought by police earlier this week on suspicion of entering a bakery where he used to work and stealing $270 from the cash register.
Henry was arrested in that case on Thursday and was released after spending several hours in jail, Bowman said.
Henry’s break-out role in ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’ was followed by a a turn in ‘12 Years a Slave’, and he is slated to appear in the forthcoming Marvin Gaye biopic ‘Sexual Healing’. - Reuters