File photo of Dakota Theriot.
Dakota Theriot plead guilty today to killing three people in Livingston Parish and two in Ascension Parish after a multi-parish shooting spree in 2019. Among his victims were his girlfriend, her father, her brother, and his parents. 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perilloux said Theriot’s history of mental illness and the pandemic delayed his trial.
“Up until today it was a capital case so the consideration by the defense was that the death penalty was taken off the table for the defendant in exchange for the life sentence plea was entered into,” said Perilloux.
Perilloux said the five murders were unspeakably tragic and extremely unordinary for the two parishes.
“No real explanation as to why this happened, which is often the case. But certainly, just a very, very tragic, horrific matter for this community and these families to take in,” said Perilloux.
Theriot will be transferred to Angola to serve multiple life sentences. Because of his history of mental illness, Perilloux was asked if Theriot will be placed in the general population at the state prison.
“Well, that’s up to the Department of Corrections but I would think that’s probably what’s going to happen,” said Perilloux.
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