Former Texas judge and his wife allegedly killed by son in their home
01/10/2024 11:27 am PST
GEORGETOWN, Texas (TCD) -- A 45-year-old man reportedly confessed to fatally shooting his 74-year-old parents inside their home this week after his mother tried to give him a sleeping pill.
According to a news release from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, on Monday, Jan. 8, at around 11:45 p.m., deputies responded to the 300 block of County Road 317 in reference to a shooting. Seth Carnes’ 19-year-old daughter called 911 and told authorities her father had shot her grandfather, an arrest affidavit obtained by KEYE-TV alleges.
Upon deputies’ arrival, Seth Carnes reportedly exited the home with one hand up and his other hand holding a coffee mug. The sheriff’s office said he admitted he had fatally shot his mother, Susan Carnes, and his father, Alfred "Burt" Carnes, a retired former District Court judge.
The sheriff’s office said they all lived in the home.
According to KEYE, Officials located Burt Carnes dead on the living room floor and Susan Carnes deceased in an upstairs bedroom. Both victims had suffered apparent fatal gunshot wounds.
Sheriff’s office investigators believe the suspect and his parents got into a "disagreement, escalating into family violence and death."
Carnes reportedly told police that his mother attempted to give him a sleeping pill, but he didn’t provide a clear motive. He allegedly said he killed his father as a way to "finish the job."
Deputies arrested Carnes and charged him with capital murder. He remains held in the Williamson County Jail without bond.
Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division said in a statement, "This deeply distressing incident has sent shockwaves through our community, particularly considering Alfred 'Burt' Carnes’ esteemed position as a retired District Judge."
Williamson County Sheriff Mike Gleason added, "Mr. Carnes was a respected and admired figure in our community, known for his fair and compassionate approach to justice."
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