WAGGAMAN, LA – A Jefferson Parish woman is facing second-degree murder charges after authorities say she fatally stabbed her husband during a late-night drive, then struck him with a vehicle in an incident that has shaken the community just outside New Orleans.
Deputies in Jefferson Parish responded to reports of a car crash near 10 p.m. Tuesday in Waggaman, where they discovered an unresponsive man suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim, later identified as 68-year-old Sebastian King, was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said King had also sustained injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle.
King’s wife, 65-year-old Carmella Motley, was present at the scene when deputies arrived. Investigators said Motley informed authorities that she and King had become engaged in a heated argument while driving through the neighborhood. Details of what sparked the altercation have not been released.
Detectives believe the confrontation escalated, resulting in Motley allegedly stabbing King before running him over with the couple’s SUV. Authorities later confirmed King’s cause of death as a combination of blunt and sharp force trauma, according to findings from the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office.
The fatal incident has left friends and family searching for answers after what authorities have described as a violent domestic dispute. Jefferson Parish law enforcement officials have not released further information regarding what may have led to the deadly confrontation, citing the active nature of the investigation.
King, remembered as a devoted grandfather to five and a dedicated food delivery driver for the Second Harvest Food Bank, was well known in the local community for his charitable work. God’s House Church in nearby Marrero, one of the food bank’s regular distribution points, announced plans to host a celebration of life service in King’s memory.
Motley was taken into custody at the scene and later booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center. Court records show that her bond has been set at $500,000 while she awaits further court proceedings related to the murder charge.
Officials have indicated that the King investigation is ongoing, and further details may emerge as detectives continue to piece together events leading up to the fatal encounter.
The tragic case has highlighted the issue of domestic disputes that escalate into severe violence, with many in the community expressing shock over the turn of events. The sheriff’s office has urged anyone with additional information to come forward as they work to determine the full circumstances of the incident.