A man in Louisiana has been charged with the murder of an elderly woman and the alleged act of driving around with her deceased body for a month. Christopher Talton Carter, aged 43, is currently facing trial for the said offenses as per the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. The charges against him include first-degree murder, identity theft, and unlawful disposal of human remains.
The victim, Sheila Ortega, was reported missing by her family on August 20, 2023. Family members had not been in contact with Ortega for a month prior to the report. The following day, authorities found Ortega’s SUV abandoned in a shopping center parking lot in Lake Charles. Upon investigation, they discovered Ortega’s severely decomposed body inside. Carter was apprehended at a nearby establishment and taken into custody immediately.
Carter had drawn suspicion earlier when he was stopped by police while driving Ortega’s vehicle the night before. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso recounted that Carter had provided misleading information, claiming he had left Ortega with acquaintances in Arkansas and planned to retrieve her in a few days.
Although initially charged with second-degree murder, Carter’s charges were elevated after he admitted to opening multiple loans using Ortega’s personal details following her demise. Investigators revealed that Carter confessed to murdering Ortega about a month before his arrest and acknowledged utilizing her information for financial gain post her death.
Authorities uncovered evidence suggesting that Carter had prepared for potential consequences by researching methods to dispose of a body and exploring the insanity defense strategy using internet searches. His browsing history included inquiries such as “The best way to get rid of a body” and “Does the insanity plea work in a murder case.”
Carter’s actions and the subsequent developments have shocked the local community, prompting a deeper investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.