John Jefferson
Colby Stokes (Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office), Carley and Beverly Stokes and the home where they were killed on Wednesday (WWL screenshots)
A 23-year-old man in Louisiana was arrested this week and is accused of killing his grandparents, allegedly shooting them inside of their home and then walking over to the neighbor’s house and confessing. Colby Stokes was taken into custody on Wednesday evening on two counts of first-degree murder in the slayings of Beverly Stokes and Carley Stokes, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
In addition to murder, Colby Stokes is also facing charges of cruelty to animals, second-degree aggravated battery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He had initially been charged with two counts of second-degree manslaughter, but authorities upgraded the charges on Thursday.
The tragic attack took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 3, at the grandparents’ home in Mount Hermon, Louisiana, according to a report from the Louisiana Radio Network. The area is about 75 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Deputies with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to the home after receiving a 911 call from an individual who told the emergency dispatcher that their next-door neighbor, whom they identified as Stokes, had just come to the house and said he had killed his grandparents.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies said they located the elderly husband and wife inside of the home and both were suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Carley Stokes was pronounced dead at the scene and Beverly Stokes was transported to a hospital for treatment. She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the facility.
Colby Stokes waited with the neighbor who called 911 and deputies who responded to the scene placed him under arrest, New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU reported.
Washington County Sheriff Jason Smith, who was sworn in this week, told New Orleans CBS affiliate WWL that Colby Stokes also admitted to fatally shooting his grandparents in a recorded interview with detectives.
The sheriff said that Colby Stokes previously had multiple run-ins with the law, including a 2018 arrest for a burglary in which a then-17-year-old Colby Stokes was accused of stealing multiple guns.
“He’s been in and out of jail, he’s had some convictions and had some problems with the law,” Smith told the station. “He’s struggled with some mental health issues and some drug abuse.”
Smith said the situation put the family involved in an impossible situation.
“For this family, they’re on both sides of this issue. Not only have they been victimized by it, they’ve also perpetrated it, so it’s a very difficult circumstance to be in.”
Authorities have not revealed a possible motive for the murders.
A family friend provided a statement from the family to WWL saying they are “dealing with the loss of two wonderful people and just trying to process.”
“It is a tragedy that no one should have to face,” the statement said.
Colby Stokes is currently being held without bond.
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