It was a Tuesday afternoon in LaPlace, Louisiana, when the lives of the Finckbeiner family were irrevocably shattered. On February 25, 2014, Steven 'Steve' Finckbeiner, a 63-year-old male, was working alongside his wife, Connie, at their family-owned business, LaPlace Feed & Supply. For over 28 years, the store had been a cornerstone of their lives, a place where they raised their children and served their community.
That day, however, it became a scene of brutal violence when two men entered with the intent to rob them.
During the armed robbery, both Steve and Connie were shot. Steve Finckbeiner sustained three gunshot wounds and died at the scene. His wife, Connie, was also shot in the face but survived the horrific attack. The violent incident sent shockwaves through the quiet community, prompting a massive search for the individuals responsible and leading to the lockdown of nearby schools.
The investigation into the murder of Steve Finckbeiner led authorities to two suspects. One of the men, Charles McQuarter III, was arrested and charged in connection with the crime. The other individual, Dracier Dewey, reportedly accompanied McQuarter to the feed store on the day of the homicide and would later testify during the trial. The case against McQuarter was built on evidence gathered by the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, including crucial video surveillance from a nearby auto shop.
In March 2019, after more than five years of waiting for justice, the case against Charles McQuarter III went to trial. The proceedings were emotionally charged for the Finckbeiner family, as they listened to detailed testimony about the events that led to Steve's death. The prosecution presented its case, which included an account from Dracier Dewey. The defense argued that a lack of physical evidence, such as DNA, a murder weapon, or gunshot residue at the crime scene, created reasonable doubt. After nearly two hours of deliberation, the jury returned with a verdict. Charles McQuarter III was found guilty of second-degree murder and armed robbery with a firearm. The verdict brought a sense of relief to Steve Finckbeiner's family. McQuarter faced a life sentence for the murder conviction, with an additional sentence for the armed robbery charge.
