Authorities in Jefferson Parish are investigating a homicide in the Waggaman area after a man was found dead Tuesday night with multiple stab wounds.
Deputies with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO) were called around 10 p.m. to the 6000 block of Live Oak Boulevard following reports of a vehicle crash. When they arrived, they discovered an unresponsive man lying in a ditch near the vehicle. Deputies said the man had suffered several stab wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Also present was the victim’s wife, 65-year-old Carmella Motley. According to investigators, Motley told deputies there had been an altercation between her and her husband inside the vehicle before the stabbing occurred.
Following the initial investigation, a warrant was issued for Motley on charges of second-degree murder. She was taken into custody as deputies worked to piece together the events leading up to the fatal encounter.
According to documents obtained by NOLA, the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office has not yet released the victim’s identity. Officials said the name will be withheld until an autopsy is completed and the family has been notified.
JPSO deputies have not shared additional details about what may have sparked the dispute, and it remains unclear whether anyone else was involved. The case is now being handled as an active homicide investigation.
The quiet Waggaman neighborhood where the stabbing occurred was shaken by the violence. Residents in the area reported hearing sirens and seeing police activity late into the night as deputies secured the scene and gathered evidence.
Sheriff’s officials emphasized that more information will be made public once investigators complete their preliminary work and the coroner finalizes the autopsy report. For now, the case centers on the domestic dispute that allegedly escalated into violence inside the couple’s vehicle.
Second-degree murder in Louisiana carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted. Legal experts note that cases involving domestic disputes can be complex, with prosecutors expected to rely heavily on witness statements, forensic evidence, and the autopsy findings to determine the exact circumstances of the killing.
As the community awaits further updates, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward. While deputies believe they have identified the key suspect, officials say additional testimony could help clarify the timeline of events leading up to the fatal stabbing.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to release more details in the coming days.