A group handling death penalty cases is representing Antonio Donde Tyson, accused of killing Father Otis Young and church worker Ruth Prats.
COVINGTON, La. – It has been four months since the bodies of Ruth Prats and Father Otis Young, burned beyond recognition, were found in downtown Covington.
On Tuesday, her accused killer was in court for the indictment.
The case brought back emotions on the North Shore as both sides gathered in the courtroom.
It was a case that left people living on the North Shore stunned. Shortly after Thanksgiving last year, Rev. Otis Young, a recently retired priest at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Covington, and his caretaker and longtime church worker Ruth Prats were found brutally beaten to death and their bodies burned. On Tuesday, Antonio Donde Tyson pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in her death.
“I have nothing to say about that. I don’t know what went through his head and I have nothing to say about it. He pleaded not guilty. I don’t know what to believe,” Tyson’s sister said.
While Tyson’s sister declined to speak about what her brother is accused of, a friend of Ruth’s also declined to speak about how she felt upon seeing Tyson in the courtroom, but said her elegant, stylish friend is in her daily prayers.
“I miss Ruth’s laughter. She found joy in everything, father too. Ruth was someone anyone could turn to with difficulties or problems and she made time for you right away and you always left much better than when you arrived,” said Celie Clark, friend of Prats.
“This crime continues to have a dramatic impact on the city of Covington. The people of Covington now live in fear that something terrible could happen to them at any moment. It’s really terrorized the city, and that’s the kind of thing that really impacts the quality of life. So we’re going to be pursuing it to the end,” said St. Tammany’s District Attorney Warren Montgomery, who will be pursuing the death penalty in the case.
The Southeast Louisiana Capital Defense Project, a group that deals with capital punishment cases, is representing Tyson. Attorney Kerry Cuccia said it was inappropriate to discuss his strategy for the opportunity.
“We have nothing of the discovery or anything else. So it would be premature to tell you what kind of defense we would present, what we could do, as I don’t have the information to substantiate that at this point,” Cuccia said.
Here’s what will happen next in that case.
There will be a hearing on the DNA evidence. This is because everything has to be used up during the test. This requires a permit, and the defense wants to be there to make sure it’s being used properly.
Click here to report a typo.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered straight to you by downloading the new FREE WWL TV News app now on IOS app store or google play.
Source