Louisiana man arrested 2 weeks after his wife is found beaten to death in bed

ASCENSION PARISH, La. (TCD) -- A 38-year-old man is in custody after allegedly beating his 43-year-old wife to death more than two weeks ago.

According to a news release from the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, on Wednesday, June 28, at around 4:45 a.m., deputies responded to a home on Highway 74 and found Sonia Escalante-Baca dead from apparent blunt force trauma. Authorities discovered her in a bed, the Advocate reports.

After obtaining sufficient evidence, the Sheriff's Office identified the victim's husband, Joseph Fogle, as the primary suspect. He reportedly called officials to report his wife's death on June 28.

In an interview, the Advocate reports that Fogle told detectives he left his home to get breakfast that day and when he returned, he found his wife dead.

Investigators reportedly suspect Fogle used a weapon when he had beaten his wife.

The Sheriff's Office booked him into the Ascension Parish Jail on a charge of second-degree murder.

Previously, Fogle was convicted of aggravated kidnapping in Parker County, Texas, court records show. According to the Weatherford Democrat, in June 2007, he asked a woman he knew for a ride and kidnapped her at knifepoint as she was handcuffed. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

MORE:

• APSO Detectives Make Arrest in Gonzales Homicide Investigation - Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office
• Parker County, Texas Court Records
• Quick thinking foils kidnapping, 6/20/2007 - Weatherford Democrat
• Man booked in June beating death of wife in Ascension; was convicted in 2007 Texas kidnapping - the Advocate