Claiborne Parish woman dies by suicide in front of sheriff's office

HOMER, La. – A Claiborne Parish woman took her own life in front of the sheriff’s office this week following her release from jail, sources tell KTBS. The woman, identified as Blanche Burcham, who is in her 70s, reportedly was arrested for a financial crimes offense. She was released by Sheriff Sam Dowies on her own recognizance, meaning she did not have to post bond. Burcham, of Haynesville, then went outside and shot herself near her car in the parking lot of the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office in Homer. A request to the sheriff’s office for information was not answered. Homer police were not notified even though it happened in the town. “Notifying us would have been standard operating procedure since it happened inside the city limits so we could have investigated it,” Homer Police Chief Van McDaniel said.