Former Louisiana Mayor's Lover Discovered Dead Following Abuse Accusations
The former lover of disgraced Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts was found dead just weeks after her ex-husband accused him of abusive behavior, it was revealed on Thursday. Roberts, aged 43, who was recently convicted of having sex with her son's underaged friend, had been in a relationship with William Andrew Cronce following her divorce from Duncan Clanton, the father of her two children.
Timeline of Events and Tragic Discovery
Cronce, a 38-year-old local pipe liner, was discovered deceased on February 23, 2024. An online obituary described him as a loving and hardworking father who actively coached baseball in the DeRidder community, where Roberts previously served as mayor. The tribute highlighted his resilience, stating, 'He was unstoppable on a machine or with a ball in his glove. He was truly the man in the arena - falling, standing up and trying again.' It further noted, 'Behind an extremely hard exterior was the most gentle man. He loved and lived with so much emotion and passion.'
The circumstances surrounding Cronce's death remain unclear, but it occurred approximately one month after Clanton filed a civil restraining order on January 24, 2024, seeking to keep Cronce away from their adolescent children, aged 10 and 13. According to reports from the New York Post, Clanton expressed grave concerns in the court documents, alleging that Cronce exhibited alcoholic, suicidal, and stalking tendencies.
Allegations of Abuse and Protective Order Details
In the protective order request, Clanton detailed specific incidents, including an argument where Cronce allegedly shouted obscenities in front of the children. He wrote, 'I am fearful for my children's safety because William Andrew Cronce does have access to weapons/handguns, he is bold enough to publicly voice/threaten suicide and has shown stalking behavior with the mother of my children.' Clanton also referenced a Facebook post where Cronce threatened suicide after a breakup with Roberts, and a subsequent police encounter where Cronce was found unconscious with a firearm.
Clanton rhetorically questioned, 'If he is brave enough to take his own life, what is stopping him from shooting Misty, our kids and himself?' He further claimed that despite Cronce's alleged stalking behavior, Roberts resumed the relationship, ignoring pleas from both Clanton and their daughter to keep Cronce at a distance. The father described the situation as forcing the children to witness a toxic relationship.
Legal Responses and Roberts' Admission
Cronce's lawyer filed a response on February 2, 2024, denying the abuse allegations and requesting dismissal of the protective order, just three weeks before Cronce's death. In a separate letter to the court, Roberts admitted that her strained mental state post-divorce led her into what she described as a severely mentally and physically abusive relationship, as reported by the New York Post.
Court documents obtained by the Daily Mail revealed a contentious divorce between Roberts and Clanton, marked by hostile text exchanges. In one message from 2022, Clanton called Roberts derogatory names and accused her of alcoholism and infidelity. However, following Roberts' arrest in 2024 for the sexual assault of a minor, the exchanges subsided, with Clanton offering support despite their separation.
Roberts' Criminal Case and Custody Arrangements
Roberts resigned as mayor days before her arrest in July 2024 and was later released on a $100,000 surety bond. In December 2024, she and Clanton agreed to joint custody with the children residing primarily with Clanton, and child support payments were terminated. Roberts, representing herself, clarified that the agreement was not an admission of guilt regarding her pending criminal matters.
During her trial, the victim testified that he was intoxicated during the incident, recalling dizziness and an inability to feel his body. Roberts now faces up to 17 years in prison for the crime, as the victim was a year under Louisiana's age of consent. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
