In the quiet community of Mount Hermon, Louisiana, a domestic tragedy unfolded, ending the lives of a long-married couple. On July 3, 2024, 81-year-old Carley Stokes and his 75-year-old wife, Beverly Ann Stokes, were fatally shot in their family home. Carley Stokes, a Marine veteran and retiree from CLECO, was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife of 57 years, a retired licensed practical nurse, was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
The alleged perpetrator of this violent act was the couple's 23-year-old grandson, Colby Stokes, also a resident of Washington Parish. After the shooting, Colby Stokes reportedly walked to a neighbor's house and confessed to the crime. The neighbor then alerted the authorities by calling 911. When deputies from the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office arrived, they found the elderly couple with gunshot wounds.
Colby Stokes was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with two counts of second-degree murder. The charges were later upgraded to two counts of first-degree murder, and he is also facing charges of cruelty to animals, aggravated battery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the Washington Parish Sheriff, Colby Stokes had a history of mental health struggles and issues with drug and alcohol abuse. He had previous encounters with law enforcement, including a burglary arrest in 2018. The investigation into the motive for the killings is ongoing.
