Man accused of killing girlfriend in murder-suicide despite woman’s recent protective orders

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB/Gray News) - New details have emerged in the apparent domestic murder-suicide that left a man and woman dead over the weekend.

According to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Paul Varnado, 54, shot and killed his girlfriend, Alanna Singleton, 54, before taking his own life at a home Sunday morning in the East Baton Rouge Parish.

According to court documents, Singleton had filed two restraining orders against Varnado in recent months:

• The first temporary restraining order was issued on March 19 and later dismissed on May 14.
• Varnado was then arrested on June 24 for domestic abuse battery, and a new protective order was granted. That order was still active at the time of the shooting and remains in effect through the end of 2025.

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives said they are continuing to work to notify family members and gather evidence.