This story, headlined “Rape. Murder. Gunfights.,” was originally published Sept. 26, 2005. It is being republished for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as part of The Times-Picayune’s Pulitzer-winning coverage.
After five days managing near-riots, medical horrors and unspeakable living conditions inside the Superdome, Louisiana National Guard Col. Thomas Beron prepared to hand over the dead to representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Following days of internationally reported killings, rapes and gang violence inside the Dome, the doctor from FEMA — Beron doesn’t remember his name — came prepared for a grisly scene: He brought a refrigerated 18-wheeler and three doctors to process bodies…