A suspect has been arrested and charged with a murder that occurred near Isabel.
Killed was Lark Starnes, a resident of the 1200 block of South Choctaw Road.
Arrested was Clois Clifton Blackledge II, age 35.
Washington Parish deputies were called to Starnes’ resdence on South Choctaw Road early on Friday, July 5. Deputies were advised that a dead man had been found behind the home.
The initial investigation revealed the dead man was Starnes, and he had been killed with multiple gunshots.
Based on information that WPSO investigators received, a suspect in the homicide was identified as Blackledge.
The search for Blackledge began. Around 6:30 pm Friday, the motorcycle he had been riding was found at Poole’s Bluff boat launch south of Bogalusa on the Pearl River.
Te entire area was searched, to no avail.
The search continued early the next morning, Saturday, and deputies received assistance from the Louisiana State Police.
During Saturday morning’s search, reports were received of a man matching Blackledge’s description who was walking southbound alongside Highway 21.
At the intersection of HIghway 21 and Mitchell Road, a Louisiana State Police trooper saw Blackledge, stopped him, confirmed his identity, and deputies arrived to take him into custody.
He was formally arrested and is charged with one count of second degree murder and one count of obstruction of justice.
Sheriff Jason Smith said he extends his thanks to the numerous members of the community who assisted in providing information and he also would like to recognize the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office Digital Forensics Team, the ATF, and the Louisiana State Police for their exceptional efforts and professionalism.
Anyone with any further information about the Lark Starnes homicide is asked to call the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 839-3434 or Crime Stoppers at (504) 822-1111.
For Sheriff Jason Smith, this case represents the third homicide in only his first week in office. Earlier in the week, two people were killed in Mount Hermon. (See separate article on the Mount Hermon homicides.)
