After a former Texas judge and his wife were murdered, police arrested and charged their 45-year-old son with capital murder.
Seth B. Carnes was arrested late Monday evening in Georgetown, Texas, according to a press release from the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. Around 11:45 p.m. that night, authorities received a call about a shooting near the home of retired District Judge Alfred “Burt” Carnes and his wife Susan, both 74.
When deputies arrived, Seth Carnes was exiting the residence and told deputies that he had just shot and killed his parents, the press release stated. Carnes was taken into custody and charged with capital murder. He is currently being held without bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
When deputies entered the home, they found the bodies of Alfred and Susan with fatal gunshot wounds. The sheriff’s office said that a preliminary investigation determined the murders resulted from a disagreement between Seth and his parents, but did not elaborate.
“This deeply distressing incident has sent shockwaves through our community, particularly considering Alfred ‘Burt’ Carnes’ esteemed position as a retired District Judge,” Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division said in the press release. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family affected by this heartbreaking event.”
Sheriff Mike Gleason added in a separate post that “Mr. Carnes was a respected and admired figure in our community, known for his fair and compassionate approach to justice. His dedication to upholding the law and ensuring the well-being of those around him was truly remarkable. His dedication to justice and unwavering commitment to fairness will be remembered for generations to come.”
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Alfred Carnes retired in 2013 after serving as a judge for 23 years, the Austin American-Statesman reported at the time. Alfred told the outlet that he had no regrets about retiring.
“Early on, I decided that I was going to be a judge, not a politician,” he said. “You’ve got to follow the law and within the bounds of the law do what you think is right.”