Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
WASHINGTON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A former person of interest in the investigation of a July 5 Washington Parish homicide was arrested and charged with murder on Saturday, July 6.
According to the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, the man, 35-year-old Clois Clifton Blackledge III, was identified as a person of interest after police responded to reports of a man who had been found dead behind his home on South Choctaw Road near Bogalusa. The victim was later identified as 62-year-old Lark Starnes.
At the investigation’s outset, Blackledge had last been seen riding a Honda motorcycle which was later found around 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Poole’s Bluff boat launch in Bogalusa. Investigators searched the area late into the evening but weren’t able to find Blackledge that night.
On Saturday morning, however, investigators returned to Poole’s Bluff alongside a member of the Louisiana State Police Unmanned Aircraft Systems team. Their search concluded shortly after reports were received of a man, matching Blackledge’s description, walking down Highway 21.
The UAS team member was able to locate and speak with the man at the intersection of Highway 21 and Mitchell Road, south of Bogalusa, and confirm his identity. Washington Parish deputies then took Blackledge in for questioning.
Blackledge has been arrested and is being charged with two felonies, those being one count of second-degree murder and one count of obstruction of justice.
The investigation remains ongoing and the WPSO asks that anyone with additional information about the incident contact them at 985-839-3434 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.
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