A beloved former bartender walks back into a Bourbon Street institution during Southern Decadence and never comes home. We follow the final hours of Dan Bettencourt Jr.—from a late-night laundry run to Oz Nightclub, to a crowded room, a reported disturbance, and the moment friends say a headlock left him lifeless on the floor. The police narrative and eyewitness claims don’t line up, the surveillance angles go dark at the worst possible moment, and the long-promised toxicology update never appears. That gap between what should be on camera and what isn’t becomes the fault line we can’t ignore.
We lay out the timeline, compare statements, and unpack the coroner’s early notes: no gross anatomical trauma, a potential cardiac abnormality, and circumstances considered suspicious enough to alert homicide detectives. From there, we ask the questions you would: Where are the missing angles in a bar that handles cash and crowds? Who restrained Dan, for how long, and with what training? If a tooth was allegedly pulled during a fight, where’s the corroboration—medical records, staff logs, or follow-up reports? In a weekend packed with tourists and phones, could unseen photos or clips still surface?
This isn’t about sensationalizing Bourbon Street. It’s about accountability when stories conflict and evidence thins out. We talk practical next steps for anyone who was there: sharing timestamps, videos, or even small details that might anchor the chain of events. We also speak directly to friends, former coworkers, and visitors who remember that night—because a single overlooked detail can revive momentum on a case that’s now cold. Press play for a clear-eyed walk through the facts, the blind spots, and the pressure points that could finally move this forward.
If you have information, contact NOPD Cold Case Division at 504-658-5300. Found a detail we missed or an update we should see? Email us at holdmysweetteapodcast@gmail.com. If this story matters to you, follow, share, and leave a review so more people can help bring answers to Dan’s family.
Source Material:
Moore, Katie, September 17, 2015, Homicide detectives investigating Oz nightclub death, https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/investigations/katie-moore/homicide-detectives-investigating-oz-nightclub-death/289-153471247
Williams, Starlight, September 10, 2015, Foul play suspected surrounding death at Oz, https://loyolamaroon.com/10005083/news/campus/foul-play-suspected-surrounding-death-at-oz/
WWL Staff, September 9, 2015, Friends suspect foul play in Bourbon St. nightclub death, https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/local/orleans/friends-suspect-foul-play-in-bourbon-st-nightclub-death/289-153472027
Uncovered, 2009-2025, Suspicious Death: Dan Bettencourt, Jr., https://uncovered.com/cases/dan-bettencourt-jr-new-orleans-la-2015#sources
Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Homes, September 7, 2015, Dan Robert Bettencourt, Jr. Obituary, https://www.bradfordokeefe.com/obituaries/Dan-Bettencourt
