in 2005.

Silverii said friends had taken the child's mother, Jesslyn Lirette, 27, to try to fix her broken-down car on Sunday. Lirette - who lived with Wright but was not married to him - returned to a home blocked with police tape.

When she identified herself, Silverii had Ross, who had been her minister for 12 years and remains a lay pastor, and a captain tell her what had happened to her son, a second-grade student at South Thibodaux Elementary School.

"These are experienced men. They came out of there in tears. Just absolutely in tears," Silverii said.

Grief counselors from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office also spent time with her, he said.

The slaying was the first since 2008 in Thibodeaux, which is about a 60-mile drive west of New Orleans.

SilveriiCycling: Henderson facing daunting task at nationals

World Pro Tour cyclist Greg Henderson believes he faces a daunting task to realise his dream of a national road title. Photo / Getty Images.

World Pro Tour cyclist Greg Henderson believes he faces a daunting task to realise his dream of a national road title.

The Melbourne and Girona-based rider is heading to Christchurch this weekend in his attempt to win the Calder Stewart national road championship for the first time.

The 35-year-old has a stack of honours to his credit including a world title on the track, a stage win on a Grand Tour, a Commonwealth Games gold medal and five Olympics Games.

However, the Lotto-Belisol professional is the only rider among an experienced Kiwi quartet who has not won the national title, which