A Louisiana man has been accused of murdering an elderly woman and then driving around with her deceased body for a month. Christopher Talton Carter, aged 43, is currently on trial for these alleged offenses, as stated by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. He is facing charges of first-degree murder, identity theft, and improper disposal of human remains.
The victim, Sheila Ortega, was reported missing by her family on August 20, 2023, after not being in contact with them for a month. Authorities found Ortega’s SUV in a shopping center parking lot in Lake Charles the next day, where they discovered her badly decomposed body. Carter, who was present at a nearby establishment during the discovery, was promptly apprehended.
Carter had drawn suspicion earlier when he was stopped by police while driving Ortega’s vehicle the night before. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso explained that during the stop, Carter misled the deputy by claiming he had left Ortega in Arkansas with acquaintances, intending to retrieve her in a few days.
Although initially released after the traffic stop, Carter faced further scrutiny when Ortega’s body was found the following day. He confessed almost immediately to the police, admitting to killing Ortega about a month prior and using her identity to obtain loans after her demise.
Initially charged with second-degree murder, Carter’s charges were upgraded after investigators uncovered his alleged backup plan. Prosecutors argued that Carter had planned to utilize an insanity defense to avoid repercussions after researching disposal methods for a body on Google.
Evidence from Carter’s search history included concerning searches like “The best way to get rid of a body” and “Does the insanity plea work in a murder case.” This information, along with his actions, led to the heightened charges against him.
