The shared kids of disgraced Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts and her ex-husband allegedly suffered abuse by the hands of the ex-leader’s former lover – who later wound up lifeless, in response to courtroom data solely reviewed by The Publish.
The disturbing docs reveal Roberts’ ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, went so far as submitting a civil restraining order to maintain the previous couple’s two adolescent kids away from native pipeliner William Andrew Cronce – a person he claimed had alcoholic, suicidal and “stalky” tendencies throughout his alleged on-and-off once more relationship with Roberts.
“I’m fearful for my kids’s security as a result of William Andrew Cronce does have entry to weapons/handguns, he’s daring sufficient to publicly voice/threaten suicide and has proven stalking habits with the mom of my kids,” Clanton wrote in a Jan. 24, 2024, letter pleading with a Beauregard Parish courtroom decide to grant the safety order on behalf of his daughter, then 10 years previous, and son, 13.
In a single notably troubling instance of Cronce’s “instability,” throughout an argument with Roberts, the laborer allegedly “exited the home by loudly shouting in entrance of [the kids] that their Mom must be taught to close her ‘c—ok sucker’, if she is aware of what’s good for her,” Clanton claimed, explaining that his son had instructed him concerning the incident.
Cronce had additionally posted on Fb threatening suicide following a breakup from Roberts – and was later discovered by police “incapacitated and unconscious with a gun on his individual,” the ex-husband additional alleged.
“If he’s courageous sufficient to take his personal life, what’s to cease him from capturing Misty, our youngsters and himself?” Clanton wrote.
Regardless of Cronce allegedly “stalking” Roberts by taking footage of Roberts’ house and automobile and sending them to her whereas they have been damaged up, she took him again in, in response to Clanton.
The daddy filed the final ditch effort after his ex-wife flagrantly ignored his repeated requests to maintain Cronce away from the youngsters – and even disregarded her personal daughter’s needs: “No, she didn’t need him to return over,” Clanton wrote within the courtroom doc.
Cronce “has a historical past of instability and alcoholism that’s abusive in relationships. Our youngsters instructed me that is particularly the explanation why [his and Roberts] relationship ended, as a result of their Mom didn’t need them to be raised in a family that method.
“Now, they’re again collectively and our kids, for my part, are compelled to witness a poisonous relationship,” Clanton mentioned.
Cronce’s lawyer filed a response within the case, denying the abuse allegations and requesting the order be dismissed, on Feb. 2, 2024 – however simply three weeks later, the 38-year-old plaintiff was lifeless.
A web based obituary described Cronce as a loving father of two and “slightly hardheaded, however at all times hard-working.”
Cronce, who gained the state championship title whereas enjoying on the DeRidder Excessive College baseball workforce, served as this system’s assistant coach in 2022 and 2023.
A pipeliner by occupation, considered one of his passions was “transferring grime shortly.”
It wasn’t clear how Cronce died.
In her personal letter to a decide, Roberts – who was discovered responsible of getting intercourse along with her son’s 16-year-old pal Tuesday – admitted that her “strained psychological state” on account of her divorce from Clanton led her to have interaction in a “severely psychological [sic] and bodily abusive relationship” afterwards, although she didn’t identify the opposite particular person concerned.
The Dec. 13, 2024, letter was amongst quite a few courtroom paperwork associated to the previous couple’s divorce and custody battle, which The Publish seen earlier than they have been rapidly sealed on Wednesday.
Lots of the data confirmed Clanton initially expressing help for his ex-wife within the wake of her getting caught having intercourse with their son’s 16-year-old buddy — regardless of having already divorced Roberts on the time.
“You’re a nice mother and that’s what’s going to be your basis. That’s what’s [sic] goes to get you thru it,” Clanton wrote in a textual content dated simply two days after the romp, at what prosecutors described as a booze-fueled pool occasion at Roberts’ house.
“I gained’t flip my again on you,” Clanton added.
Her ex-husband’s help continued even after Roberts stepped down from her DeRidder mayor duties – and was subsequently arrested for raping the underage boy.
“I can inform you how glad I’m about me and also you although. We might be nice dad and mom to our youngsters and never battle or any of that negativity anymore. Let’s simply stay sooner or later at a time,” Clanton wrote.
However issues had not at all times been so heat and comfy – with textual content messages from quickly after their Could 2022 divorce displaying Clanton accusing Roberts of getting affairs behind his again and demanding she ditch his final identify, the Day by day Mail reported.
On the latter level, Clanton seethed, “You’ve rode these coattails lengthy sufficient.”
“It’s humorous what number of names have been given to me about who all you’ve gotten slept with. I’ve observed that there’s a man that reveals as much as [their son’s] video games. Humorous how his identify is talked about too,” the ex-husband wrote in one other message.
Different texts reveal that Roberts allegedly blamed their divorce on Clanton’s smoking behavior – when in actuality, he claimed, “You have been performed earlier than I had an opportunity to avoid wasting [the marriage]. My dependancy is simply your excuse.”
Different courtroom docs present that, just some months after expenses have been filed towards Roberts, the ex-hubby requested a decide to grant him full custody.
The previous pol ultimately agreed to permit their children, ages 16 and 13 on the time, to stay full time with Clanton, however she would nonetheless get to see the children.
Roberts additionally agreed to let Clanton cease paying her $2,750 a month in baby help.
The brand new custody association was not “an request for forgiveness” for her intercourse crimes, Roberts insisted to a decide at a Dec. 18, 2024, listening to, the place the decide adamantly inspired Clanton to “organize for the youngsters to go to remedy.”
“The Kids want counseling,” the decide pressed.
Clanton’s lawyer replied at that listening to that the children have been “already signed up” for counseling.
The estranged couple have been formally divorced on Could 11, 2023, and on the time had cut up custody. Roberts had filed for divorce a yr earlier.
“My consumer, Duncan, is simply glad that it’s over,” his lawyer, David Wallace, instructed The Publish Wednesday, referring to the sordid felony case.
“He trumps mother,” Wallace mentioned of the brand new custody association giving Clanton major decision-making energy over the children. He added that the jury’s responsible verdict in Roberts’ intercourse crimes case “doesn’t shock me in any respect.”
“Her associates testified towards, her children testified, Duncan testified as a result of she instructed all these those that it occurred. That wasn’t good for her,” he defined.
Roberts’ felony protection legal professional, Todd Clemons, mentioned they’re “disillusioned” with the decision however they “respect the jury’s choice.”
“We’re actually going to discover all her appellate rights and proceed to advocate for her,” Clemons mentioned about her April 17 sentencing.
