A man accused of murdering a Covington priest and parishioner has entered a guilty plea in connection with the case, sources tell WDSU.
Antonio Tyson was charged in connection with the murders of Rev. Otis Young and his friend Ruth Prats.
This plea comes four years after their brutal murders.
According to court documents, the two were kidnapped, murdered and burned.
Tyson was originally set for a jury trial, and he was facing the death penalty.
However, that all changed after District Attorney Collin Sims said Tyson’s defense attorneys submitted medical evidence that showed Tyson had intellectual disabilities since childhood and historic traumatic brain injuries.
“In a case that basically states because of these diminished capacities, it’s considered cruel and unusual punishment,” Collin said concerning the death penalty.
He said if a jury returns a death sentence, with the new evidence, it could be a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
“The family has guided every decision we’ve made,” Sims said, “the family was united and unanimous in electing to pursue the guilty plea with this hurdle.”
“He is very satisfied with the result and appreciative of the consideration given to him by the victims’ families,” Kerry Cuccia, Tyson’s attorney, said.
Now that a guilty plea is entered, Tyson will serve two life sentences for murder, and one 40-year sentence on obstruction of justice charges. The sentences will run consecutively.
While he will not get the death penalty, he will serve his time with death row inmates, or the most restrictive area of the prison Angola has to offer.
He will be formally sentenced on June 8.
Below is everything you need to know about the murders and the case.
Timeline of murders:
On Nov. 27, 2022, Covington police responded to a report of a hit-and-run near St. Tammany Bike Trace and Bogue Falaya Towers Condominiums.
Officers were given Ruth Prats’ license plate from a witness on the scene. When officers tried to contact Prats, they couldn’t find her. Police then contacted her family, who said they also couldn’t get in touch with her.
Covington police reviewed footage of the hit-and-run that showed Prats’ car involved. Her phone was pinged inside a dumpster nearby, and a criminal investigation was then launched.
Prats was also entered as a missing person, and her car was reported as stolen.
On Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, officers found Prats’ car in a Walgreens parking lot. According to police, Tyson and another woman, who was not Prats, were taken into custody.
After police found Prats’ car, they learned that Young was with Prats on Sunday. When officers went to Young’s apartment, they found he was not there.
Two bodies were then found in the 600 block of East Gibson Street on Nov. 28, around 5:49 a.m.
The bodies were found burned behind the building.
Video obtained by police showed Tyson riding a bicycle past Prats’ home around 3:53 p.m. on Sunday.
According to Sgt. Edwin Masters, Tyson went to several homes in the area before knocking on Prats’ house.
Covington priest, parishioner murdered days after accused killer violated parole
Tyson is seen on video speaking to both Prats and Young for a few minutes.
Around 3:55 p.m., police say Tyson leaves and parks his bike on the side of a grocery store.
At 4 p.m., police say Tyson was seen walking up to Prats’ front door with what appeared to be a knife behind his back in a crouched position.
Police say Tyson was then seen entering Prats’ home.
Prats’ car is seen around 5:14 p.m. backing out of the driveway of the home and out of the camera’s view.
Prats’ car is then seen driving away from the home.
Covington police say Tyson was seen at multiple businesses on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28 in Prats’ car. He was also found on security footage at a gas station filling up a container of fuel while in Prats’ car, according to police.
Prats’ car was then seen on security camera footage entering the crime scene on Gibson Street.
Police say Tyson has no association with St. Peter’s Church or the school.
About the suspect:
Tyson was arrested and faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of obstruction of justice, one count of illegal possession of stolen things, and one count of resisting an officer by giving a false name.
Tyson has a violent criminal history.
At the time, Tyson was recently released from the Rayburn Correctional Facility prison after pleading guilty in 1993 to one count of forcible rape, one count of armed robbery, and one count of burglary.
He was sentenced to 40 years and served 31 years, according to Covington police.
Police reports from the St. Tammany District Attorney’s office shed light on the violent rape that Tyson was convicted of. Police said he was 18 at the time of the crime.
According to the court documents, the victim, a 54-year-old, said she woke up to two men in her bedroom. She said she was pistol-whipped, tied up, and a pillowcase was placed over her head, and she was then raped by both men.
Documents say she was told she would be killed if she opened her mouth.
According to the documents, the suspects stole her car, and the victim was able to break free after they left.
She then ran to a neighbor’s home and called police before being taken to a hospital.
Tyson was tracked down in the victim’s car and arrested, according to the documents.
The documents also said that a black belt used to tie up the victim was linked to Tyson through a fingerprint.
Both Tyson and the other man involved were convicted of the rape.
READ MORE:Antonio Tyson, man accused of killing Covington priest, parishioner, changes plea
