The shocking, unspeakable horror in neighboring Covington and specifically our neighbor church parish of St. Peters

 

Arrest made in Covington double killing; pastor and associate still listed as missing

Father Daniel Brouillette, the current pastor of St. Peter in Covington, said the two have been missing since Sunday night.

COVINGTON, La. — Update: An arrest has been made in the Covington double homicide.

Antonio Donde Tyson has been taken into custody and booked with: 2 counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of obstruction, 1 count of resisting an officer and 1 count of possession of stolen things.

The retired pastor of St. Peter Church in Covington and a pastoral associate have been missing since Sunday night, Father Daniel Brouillette confirmed to WWL-TV.

Father Brouillette said that Retired Priest Otis Young and Pastoral Associate Ruth Prats have not been seen since Sunday. He said that he is "unsettled and staying prayerful" about the situation as he awaits the identification of the bodies. 

The news comes as Covington Police investigate the deaths of two as yet unidentified people behind a building downtown. The bodies were burned as to be unrecognizable.

St. Peter Church will hold a prayer vigil at 7 pm in response to the double killing.

The bodies were discovered outside, behind the Dependable Glass building by the owner of the company. WWL-TV's Erika Ferrando said that the owner told her that he got to work at 5 a.m. and when he opened the back door, he saw two bodies badly burned and called 911.

Two people were questioned in the morning by Covington Police in connection to the case, but their exact involvement – if any – was undetermined.

Father Young retired from St. Peter after 10 years this past July due to health issues that included a stroke and heart surgery.

“There is an appointed time for everything,” said Father Young in a letter to parishioners in November 2021, announcing his retirement, effective July 1, 2022.

St. Scholastica Academy and St. Peter School in Covington were releasing students from class early due to the proximity to the scene and police investigation activity, according to the Archdiocese. 

“Our hearts have been shattered by this unfathomable crime,” said Parish President Mike Cooper in a social media post. “We stand behind the Covington Police Department and St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office as they investigate this heinous action. Please join me in praying for the families and friends of the victims and the entire Covington community.”