Derrick Perkins used Nathan Millard’s debit card: report

Derrick Perkins used Nathan Millard’s debit card in two stores, police said. (Image by Perkins: Baton Rouge Police Department; Image by Millard: Texas EquuSearch)

Police say the man they were questioning about Nathan Millard’s disappearance and death used the 42-year-old’s debit card at two stores in the South Baton Rouge area, according to documents obtained by WBRZ. Derrick Perkins, 45, was allegedly caught by surveillance cameras on Highland Road amid Millard’s disappearance, officials said.

This allegation comes after police officers said they found Perkins, whom they intended to question about Millard, who was found dead, early March 6, curled up in a rug in a vacant lot. He was last seen alive on the night of February 22 to early February 23 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Officers said they found no evidence of foul play, including gunshot wounds or blunt force trauma.

“No evidence of internal or external trauma was found,” the East Baton Rouge Community Coroner’s Office said in a statement obtained by Law&Crime. “The final results of the autopsy are pending when further studies are conducted, including toxicological tests. Cause and manner of death pending final autopsy report.”

Officials did not say whether or not they believe Perkins played a role in the man’s mysterious disappearance or death. However, they arrested him for violating probation, criminal damage to property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and triple counting access device fraud.

As Millard’s missing persons case garnered national attention in late February and early March, Perkins spray-painted the bumper of a stolen 2004 Toyota Camry, removed the rear bumper decal and swapped out the license plate to “disguise” the vehicle. Police claimed in reported records. The vehicle was reported stolen on February 3, they said.

Police officers reportedly said the vehicle Perkins was last seen in was discovered burned on Monday. His registered address is less than a mile from the property where Millard’s body was found.

Capt. Kevin Heinz said in a news conference last week that surveillance footage from local businesses tracked Millard’s whereabouts during his last known hours. For example, the man landed at a bus stop, the captain said. A security guard offered to help him because she felt he was out of place, even though he didn’t appear to be in need. She offered to take him away or call the police for him. Millard declined and left of his own volition, Heinz said.

According to the captain, he was followed by surveillance footage until about 4:30 a.m. on February 23.

The captain described all of this video evidence and said Millard appears to be in these locations under his own power and he does not appear to be in distress. Heinz said nothing of a criminal nature appeared to be happening.

However, police said someone left Millard in the vacant lot at Block 2900 of the Scenic Highway.

“And look, we’re going to ask whoever put him there, if something happened and there was a moment of panic, come forward,” Heinz said. “We just want to know what happened to him.”

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