Livingston, LA (1/12/2023) – On the morning of Jan. 11, Dakota Michael Theriot, 25, pleaded guilty to three charges of First-Degree Murder and was sentenced to as many life sentences.
Theriot first pled guilty to three counts of First-Degree Murder in Livingston Parish, and Judge Brenda Ricks imposed three life sentences to be served without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. He is then expected to plead guilty to the two other First-Degree Murder charges and receive two more life sentences from Judge Jason Verdigets in Ascension Parish later today.
In January 2019, Theriot shot and killed five people in both Livingston and Ascension Parishes.
At the time of the murders, his father, Keith Theriot, and his stepmother, Elizabeth Theriot, resided in Gonzales, but Theriot was living with Billy, Summer, and 16-year-old Tanner Ernest on Courtney Rd. in Walker.
On Jan. 26, Livingston Parish authorities arrived at the Ernest family residence to find Billy, Summer, and Tanner dead from fatal gunshot wounds.
They then discovered Theriot stole Billy Ernest’s vehicle and drove to Church Point Rd. in Gonzales to kill Keith and Elizabeth Theriot.
After killing the Ernest family and his father and stepmother, Theriot fled the state in Ernest’s vehicle.
Authorities could track the truck to Virginia, where Theriot was apprehended, arrested, and extradited to Louisiana.
A grand jury indicted Theriot, and Louisiana then filed motions seeking the death penalty.
Theriot will serve five life sentences but will not receive the death penalty. The Twenty-first Judicial District Attorney’s Office of Scott Perrilloux made this decision in consideration of the victim’s families to offer them resolution and prevent further trauma.
Regarding the decision District Attorney Perrilloux said:
“As in any decision made when resolving a case, consideration is given to the victims and their families, the community, and the legal and factual posture of the case in its entirety. The victims’ families have agreed with the defendant’s plea and sentence. We appreciate their patience and cooperation. Mr. Theriot will spend the remainder of his life in prison. Our office has reviewed numerous and extensive psychological records of the defendant setting out a very documented history of his mental illness. Seeking the death penalty, although factually warranted, would lead to protracted and likely never-ending litigation for the victims’ families to endure. After much review, discussion, and consideration, we felt this was the best outcome.”
Please contact Public Information Officer AnaClaire McKneely at amckneely@21jdda.org or call (985) 748-7890 if you have any questions.
