Police in Lafayette, Louisiana have arrested 19-year-old Chance Seneca in connection with the assault and attempted murder of 18-year-old Holden White. Law enforcement officials say the pair met on Grindr. Evidence also suggests Seneca may have carried out the crime to emulate famed gay serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
The attack happened the night of June 20. Police say that Seneca and White chatted for some time on Grindr before the pair set a time to meet. Seneca took White to a local residence where an argument ensued. He then proceeded to stab White in the neck. Seneca then called 9-1-1 to report that he had murdered White.
When police arrived on the scene, they found White in a bathtub with stab wounds to the neck, blunt force trauma to the head, and strangulation wounds. Seneca had also slashed White’s wrists, so deep, in fact, that he nearly cut off his hands. Police arrested Seneca and rushed White to a nearby hospital.
An investigation has already uncovered Seneca’s love of the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who murdered and cannibalized 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991. Seneca’s profile picture on Facebook is one of Dahmer, taken during his trial.
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Still, despite the odd Dahmer parallels and the outcry from White’s friends & family, police have yet to charge Seneca with a hate crime.
Related: The full “My Friend Dahmer” trailer is here, and it’s a darkly delicious serving of total creepcakes
“There were several indicators that point us to the direction that it was not a hate crime,” Lafayette Police Sgt. Wayne Griffin told The Acadiana Advocate. “I know the mom has been posting on social media, and we’ve had all kinds of people calling the PD asking us to classify it as a hate crime. It’s just because of the sensitivity of the case, we cannot go into any more about it, but it’s not going to be classified as a hate crime.”
White’s family strongly disagrees. “In my opinion, this is nothing but something filled with hate,” White’s older sister, Faith Roussel told reporters. “I feel, just given who his profile picture was and the sick and evil things he did to my brother, this was absolutely a hate crime.” Roussel goes on to describe her brother as a activist member of the queer community, who had recently taken part in the anti-racist protests over the killing of George Floyd.
White remains in the ICU, though has recently been taken off a ventilator. Family members say he can respond to questions and has mobility but will still require extensive emotional and physical therapy to recover.
Smith David
Ummm…what? So what is it then? a crime of passion? Ridiculous!
winemaker
Sad to hear of this. That being said, you can’t really trust anyone these days. The most important caveat in online connections: never, ever meet in person the first time in a private place, never ever do this as this is an example of what might become of you. Don’t give out any personal information and take your own transportation . In all dating sites iv’e investigated this is #1 in safety tips. The first time meeting, meet in a public venue, bar or restaurant and get a feel for the guy and if you’ve got any strange feelings, something’s off or you’re plainly not interested after meeting in person or are apprehensive, bow out. You don’t owe the guy anything and following your instincts just might save your life. Sadly these sites, like grinder and tinder that are mostly ‘hook up’ sites and not dating sites are rife with creeps. and low lives. Be wise!
Chrisk
A hate crime is meant to terrorize a whole minority. Seneca might be warped in the head but he’s gay himself.
imheya
Exactly
CurtisIsTheOne
How about we call it a “hater” crime?
Kangol2
Talk about a horrific crime! I pray Holden White not only survives but heals as fully as possible. The attempted murderer should be charged with every crime that applies.
sillyme
The creep that did it should be charged fully with attempted murder and more so for what he did and then it’s more than likely that it may be up to the judge depending on how the case proceeds there and what the DA will do and how many people show up for the case and such for it’s still a pretty sick thing to do to someone who I don’t think deserved that at all by any means of the way, nor do I think Holden White would have gotten violent with the other creep there that tried to kill him and damn near did.
Invader7
Louisiana cops /DA’s..Corrupt !!! HOMOPHOBIC a**holes !!
ffmikey
If you live in Los Angeles and are a wealthy Democrat getting away with two murders of two young black men appears to be easy. It was only after a third victim was able to escape did the black D.A. who had received numerous political contributions from the defendant was he charged and then the Federal government stepped and filed additional charges.
Watch who you hook up with, they maybe totally psycho as this assailant proved to be.
frenchjr25
How would it be a hate crime? Dahmer was LGBTQ. And this person emulating him knew it.
Dymension
This is not a hate crime. It’s a gay on gay crime. This kid is a psycopath.
Dymension
A hate crime is specifically a crime perpetrated by someone represented in the majority culture against someone in the minority culture because of a deep-seated hate for people of that minority culture. If you are of the same minority culture, then hate crime does not apply.
MusicBoi74
Wouldn’t a picture of Dahmer as one’s profile picture be a HUGE red flag??
Virpilosus
It doesn’t need to be a hate crime for it to be a deeply disturbing, unsettling crime of unimaginable violence. I hope some justice for White can be achieved.