Elderly woman fatally shot in Prairieville; suspect out on bond, deputies say
PRAIRIEVILLE, La. (WAFB) - One man is in custody after fatally shooting his elderly wife in Prairieville Wednesday afternoon, according to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Ascension Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to a shooting on John Broussard road just after lunchtime Wednesday afternoon.
The woman was taken to a nearby hospital where she later died, authorities say.
Deputies arrested Marvin Stephens, 83, in connection with the deadly shooting, said a spokesperson for Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.
When they arrived at Patricia and Marvin Stephen’s home, deputies said they found enough evidence to arrest Marvin for fatally shooting his wife, Patricia.
Stephens was charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities.
Authorities released Stephens on an $85,000 bond around 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 31.
Ascension Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to a shooting on John Broussard road just after lunchtime Wednesday afternoon. When they arrived at Patricia and Marvin Stephen’s home, deputies said they found enough evidence to arrest Marvin for fatally shooting his wife, Patricia.
“We ended up arresting him for illegal use of dangerous instrumentalities and second-degree murder, we determined that he had shot his wife,” chief of criminal operations, Donald Capello, said, “information on the scene and at that point, he told us he did.”
Donald Capello said the Stephens family told investigators Marvin suffers from dementia.
“It was said by some of the family members, obviously a medical professional would have to confirm that. You know he was an 83-year-old male, so he was a little older, frail like an 83-year-old person would be,” Capello said.
“It’s just a tragic event, it’s never pleasant to see a domestic violence incident, especially with people of that age and that stature, obviously dealing with two older people it’s sad to see that and my heart goes out to the family, I really feel for the family, that really hits hard for all of the family members,” he said.
District attorney Ricky Babin said if this case goes to trial, and the family still claims Marvin has dementia, a mental competency test will be performed.
The case remains under investigation.
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