Attorney General Liz Murrill’s decision to seek an indictment of former House Speaker Clay Schexnayder in Baton Rouge prompted a series of legal questions Thursday.

The biggest one is this: Can she prosecute him without knowing the location of an ancient cypress wood board at the heart of the case that was last seen 18 months ago in what was then his legislative office in Gonzales?

Wednesday’s indictment charges that Schexnayder "knowingly and intentionally committed theft of a rare Louisiana state artifact."

Schexnayder served as speaker of the 105-member House from 2020-24, during the second term of then-Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Murrill's office has released few details on the indictment, saying it does not comment on pending criminal cases. But she has said the case is straightfor

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