Daniel Deese, Toby Beasley pled this week
Two parishioners charged with murder, Daniel Deese and Toby Beasley, pled guilty to manslaughter this week.
Daniel Deese entered a guilty plea for manslaughter on Monday in the November killing of 78-year-old Norco woman Mary Nancy Arico. Deese was originally charged with first degree murder.
According to court documents, Deese attacked Arico with serveral kitchen knives and then hit Arico in the head with a microwave when she didn’t die after the stab wounds. Arico’s death went undiscovered for weeks because she rarely socialized with neighbors. Through an autopsy, it was determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head along with multiple stab wounds.
On Tuesday, Toby Beasley of Hahnville pled guilty to manslaughter in connection to an arson in St. Rose that killed 88-year-old Ophelia Shepard, who was a double amputee and could not escape the fire. Beasley was originally charged with first degree murder and aggravated arson.
The District Attorney recommended the maximum sentence in both cases: 40 years unsuspended with the Department of Corrections. Deese’s sentencing is scheduled for September 14 while Beasley was sentenced on Tuesday following the District Attorney’s recommendations.
During Beasley’s sentencing, members of Shepard’s family spoke about the pain they have gone through since their relative’s death and the loss of their home.
Elmira Blanks, Shepard’s daughter who also lived with her, said that she does not understand what led Beasley to commit the crime.
“My life is not the same anymore…(my mother) was the love of my life,” Blanks said. “What did (Beasley) get out of it?…I’m homeless, I don’t have my mother – I don’t have anything anymore.
“I’m so thankful to God that justice has been served.”
Sylvia Dunn, the victim’s niece, said that the family prays for God to forgive Beasley.
“I hope he will repent and take this time to ask God to forgive him,” Dunn said. “I just can’t imagine how someone could commit such a horrendous crime.”
Judge Lauren Lemmon presided over the case and was impressed by the family’s faith.
“The thing that strikes me most about this family is that they are asking God to forgive you,” Lemmon said to Beasley before sentencing him. “It’s tragic what happened – it’s stupid and senseless.”
Be the first to comment