LARTO, La. (AP) - Officials say a 42-year-old Catahoula Parish man suspected in the shooting deaths of three people near Larto is in custody.
Catahoula Parish Sheriff James Kelly tells The Town Talk Lee John Ponthieux Jr., was arrested late Monday night, about 21 hours after the three bodies were found.
The victims were identified as 45-year-old John Ellard Jr. and his wife, 51-year-old Edris A. Ellard, both of Monterey, and 74-year-old Annie Bell Adams of Larto.
Kelly said his office got a call shortly before 3 a.m. Monday about a disturbance at a house. When deputies arrived, Kelly said they found the three victims dead from shotgun wounds.
Kelly said Ponthieux became a suspect because he left the scene and had been identified as a participant in the fight by Adams' daughter.