ETHEL — A Zachary man is behind bars accused of cutting his stepfather multiple times with a machete, according to officials.
East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office tells UWK that deputies responded to a trailer home in the 6100 block of Payne Rd. in Ethel around 7:40 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.
Deputies responded to a call for a disturbance with weapons. Upon arrival, they found Craig Stewart, 57, of Ethel, with “multiple cuts all over his body from a machete.”
Officials say Stewart and witness at the scene identified the alleged suspect as Stewart’s stepson, Bernard Shantate Telsa, Jr., 33, of Zachary.
Deputies say Telsa had already left from the scene before they arrived. However, when paramedics were still working on Stewart at the scene, the stepson returned to the trailer and was taken into custody for questioning.
As of the preliminary investigation, Telsa allegedly showed up at the home in a small black car to confront his stepdad about a prior argument. That’s when deputies say Telsa armed himself with a machete “striking his stepdad several times.”
Stewart was cut numerous times on his neck, head and at least a finger was cut off, according to EFSO.
Stewart was AirMed to a hospital where he had to undergo surgery. He does have life-threatening injuries.
Telsa has been booked into the East Feliciana Parish Prison for attempted second-degree murder and additional charges may be pending.
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