FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 6, 2018
COVINGTON—District Attorney Warren Montgomery announces that Joseph Adam Thibodeaux, 26, of Pearl River, pleaded guilty Wednesday (Dec. 5) to manslaughter and domestic violence aggravated assault for stabbing to death his former girlfriend’s uncle.
District Judge Scott Gardner sentenced Thibodeaux to 40 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and 5 years on the domestic violence aggravated assault charge, with the sentences to be served concurrently.
The crime occurred July 30, 2017, when Thibodeaux pulled out a knife while arguing with his girlfriend. Thibodeaux threatened the woman, with whom he has two children, and her uncle, Douglas Evans, of Lacombe, tried to intervene and calm Thibodeaux. Instead, Thibodeaux turned on Evans and stabbed him to death.
Several members of the victim’s family attended the hearing, including Evans’ mother, who told the court that losing a child is one of the most difficult experiences a person can face. The Slidell Police Department investigated the case. Assistant District Attorney Casey Dieck prosecuted it, and she was assisted by Assistant District Attorney Jerry Smith.