(WWL.com)
Accused Ascension and Livingston Parish murderer Dakota Theriot is headed back to Louisiana Friday after waiving his extradition at a court hearing in Virginia. Theriot stands accused of murdering a family he lived with in the Walker area, before heading to Gonzales to execute his parents, and then fleeing to Virginia. Legal Analyst Tim Meche on what happens once he’s back in the Bayou State.
“He’s going to have to be indicted by a grand jury in Ascension or Livingston parish. I suspect he’ll be indicted for several counts of first degree murder, and I suspect the District Attorney will seek the death penalty.”
Theriot allegedly drove to Virginia to tell his grandmother and aunts “I love you, I’m sorry.”
An Advocate report earlier this week mentioned Theriot had previous mental instability and suffered from hallucinations, and Meche says if that’s true, it could make it less likely that the 21-year-old would be sentenced to death.
“The deciding factor is going to be evidence of his mental issues, and if the defense attorney can make a good showing, then they may decide to forgo the death penalty.”
The report also noted Theriot had several short term mental health stays, and a record with the police that included threatening to burn his parents’ house down with them in it.
Theriot allegedly admitted guilt to Louisiana investigators when they visited him in Virginia. Meche says that takes a lot of the effort out of one portion of the trial, but it could still take some time to have a final sentencing.
“No question they won’t have a problem in the guilt or innocence phase in proving their case, the issue is going to be what penalty should this young man suffer.”