The Tragic Case Of Bella Fontenelle: 5 Shocking Facts From The Bunnak 'Hannah' Landon Murder Trial

The case of Bunnak "Hannah" Landon, a Louisiana woman convicted of one of the most heart-wrenching crimes in recent memory, continues to draw significant public attention as of December 10, 2025. Her name is inextricably linked to the tragic death of a young girl, a case that shocked the community of Harahan and the wider American public. This article provides an in-depth, fact-based look at the events, the trial, and the final judicial outcome that sealed her fate.

The details surrounding the murder of 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle, for which Landon was found guilty, are disturbing and have been widely reported in judicial documents and news reports. We delve into the established facts of the case, the legal proceedings that followed, and the life sentence handed down by the Jefferson Parish court.

Bunnak 'Hannah' Landon: Key Biographical and Legal Profile

The public profile of Bunnak Landon is overwhelmingly defined by her involvement in a high-profile criminal case. Below is a summary of the known legal and personal details that emerged during the trial.

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• Full Name: Bunnak Landon (also referred to as Bunnak Lim)
• Known Alias: Hannah Landon
• Residence at Time of Crime: Harahan, Louisiana
• Relationship to Victim: Girlfriend of the victim's father
• Victim: Bella Fontenelle, 6 years old
• Crime Committed: First-Degree Murder and Obstruction of Justice
• Date of Conviction: May 1, 2024
• Sentencing Date: May 6, 2024
• Sentence: Life in prison without parole plus an additional 80 years for obstruction of justice and other related charges
• Legal Defense Strategy: Insanity defense (rejected by the jury)

The Shocking Details of the Bella Fontenelle Murder Case

The tragedy began in April 2023 when 6-year-old Bella Fontenelle was found dead, an event that immediately sent shockwaves through the quiet New Orleans suburb of Harahan. Landon, who was the girlfriend of Bella's father, was quickly identified as the prime suspect. The evidence presented during the trial painted a grim picture of the events that led to the child's death.

The Brutal Crime and The Discovery

According to court testimony and evidence, Bunnak Landon was convicted of beating Bella Fontenelle to death. The violence used was a central point of the prosecution's case in Jefferson Parish. Following the murder, Landon was found to have taken steps to conceal the crime, which led to the additional charge of obstruction of justice.

One of the most shocking and widely reported facts of the case was the discovery of Bella's body. Landon was accused and convicted of placing the young girl's body in a 10-gallon plastic bucket and subsequently leaving the bucket on the front lawn of the victim's mother's home. This act of disposal, coupled with the brutality of the murder itself, solidified the prosecution's argument for the most severe charges.

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The entire community was gripped by the horrifying details, and the case quickly became a major focus of local and national news coverage. The sheer callousness of the crime against a vulnerable child ensured that the name Bella Fontenelle would become a symbol of a life tragically cut short.

Key Moments and Legal Maneuvers During the Trial

The trial of Bunnak Landon was a highly anticipated and intensely scrutinized legal proceeding. It featured several critical moments that ultimately led to the jury's unanimous decision.

The Insanity Defense Rejection

Landon's defense team centered their strategy on an insanity plea, arguing that she was unable to distinguish between right and wrong at the time of the murder. This is a common, though often difficult, defense to prove in capital cases. However, after a relatively short deliberation of just 45 minutes, the Jefferson Parish jury rejected the insanity defense completely. This swift rejection indicated that the jury found the prosecution's evidence of intent and capability to be overwhelming.

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The Verdict and Sentencing

On May 1, 2024, the jury found Bunnak Landon guilty of first-degree murder. The conviction paved the way for the sentencing phase, which took place just a few days later. On May 6, 2024, a judge delivered a definitive sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole. The life sentence is the mandatory penalty for a first-degree murder conviction in Louisiana. Additionally, Landon received an 80-year sentence for the obstruction of justice and other charges related to the disposal and concealment of the body.

The legal proceedings confirmed that Landon, also known by the alias Bunnak Lim, would spend the rest of her life incarcerated, providing a sense of finality for the family of Bella Fontenelle and the public that followed the case. The combination of the life sentence and the additional decades-long sentence ensures she will remain in the Louisiana correctional system.

The Aftermath: Public Reaction and Legal Finality

The conclusion of the trial brought a definitive end to the criminal proceedings against Landon, but the emotional scars on the community and the victim's family remain. The case highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence and child abuse, leading to increased discussions about child welfare and oversight in Louisiana.

The court documents, including the Louisiana Court of Appeal, Fifth Circuit Decisions, confirm the legal standing of the conviction and sentence, solidifying the outcome of the trial. The case of Bunnak 'Hannah' Landon serves as a grim reminder of the justice system's response to the most severe acts of violence against children. The life sentence without parole ensures that the convicted will never be a threat to the public again, a final measure of justice for Bella Fontenelle.

The overwhelming evidence presented by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's office, from the physical evidence of the beating to the disturbing manner of the body's concealment, left little doubt for the jury. The rejection of the insanity defense underscored the legal belief that Landon was fully responsible for her heinous actions. This high-profile case remains a crucial reference point in discussions about criminal justice and the protection of vulnerable minors.