In the quiet community near Bogalusa, Louisiana, the morning of July 5, 2024, brought a grim discovery that shattered the peace. Lark Starnes, a 62-year-old male resident, was found deceased behind his home on South Choctaw Road. It was immediately clear that his death was not of natural causes; an initial investigation revealed he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Known affectionately by friends and family as a handyman who could perform almost any task and would give the shirt off his back to help someone in need, Starnes was a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of fishing and working on his property. His violent death sent ripples of concern through the community.
The Washington Parish Sheriff's Office quickly launched an investigation into the homicide. Within a short time, investigators identified a person of interest: 35-year-old Clois Clifton Blackledge, III. The focus of the investigation turned to locating Blackledge, who was last seen on a Honda motorcycle. Later that same day, at approximately 6:30 PM, his motorcycle was discovered abandoned at Poole's Bluff boat launch in Bogalusa, intensifying the search efforts. Investigators worked late into the evening, following various leads in an attempt to find him.
The search for Blackledge continued into the next day, July 6th. Early that morning, investigators returned to the Poole's Bluff area, this time with assistance from a Louisiana State Police drone team. As the search was underway, reports came in about a man matching Blackledge's description walking along Highway 21. The drone team member located and confirmed the identity of the individual as Clois Blackledge at the intersection of Highway 21 and Mitchell Road, south of Bogalusa. Washington Parish Deputy Sheriffs were then able to take him into custody without incident.
Following his capture, Blackledge was brought in for questioning about the death of Lark Starnes. After the interrogation, he was formally arrested and charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of obstruction of justice. The investigation continued to move forward, and on September 17, 2024, a Washington Parish grand jury returned an indictment against Clois Blackledge for the second-degree murder of Lark Starnes, marking a significant step in the legal proceedings following the tragic end to a life well-known in the community for kindness and a willingness to help others.
