This msg from Jeff Boundy, the LA state herpetologist.
Dick: I've seen about 280 live or preserved coral snakes from Louisiana, but never one that was melanistic. The half dozen I've seen from the Lacombe/Slidell area were as brightly marked as any Florida fulvius. The dark ones described below sound as though they just had a good bit of black over the red, which is common in tener, but not fulvius. I got a tener last year that had little red showing through, but that was on the other side of the State. Who sent you the message? Corals are extremely rare anymore in eastern LA -- I know of only two being found in over ten years. I'd be interested in more info.
Jeff
If you'd like to offer him any more info, I'll e-mail you his e-addr, or, with your permission, I can give him yours.
Rgds/Dick
