A retired Texas judge and his wife were found dead from a shotgun blast in their home, and their adult son was arrested, but police said the son did not want to take sleeping pills and his parents were arrested. announced that he had admitted to shooting the man.
Seth Kearns, 45, was arrested Monday night and charged with murder in the deaths of former Williamson County Judge Alfred “Bert” Kearns and Susan Kearns, both 74.
According to an arrest affidavit, Seth Kearns told detectives he didn't really know what happened, but he shot his parents with a Remington 870 shotgun that was on a nightstand in the converted garage where they lived. He reportedly told detectives that he knew he had shot the man. Fox 7 Austin quoted.
The 45-year-old man reportedly said he believed his mother was trying to put sleeping pills in his mouth that he didn't want to take. He said he had no reason to shoot his mother other than the sleeping pills, documents said.
When investigators asked Kearns why he shot his father, Kearns said, “I was looking for something and I thought I was going to get the job done,” police said.
Shortly before midnight Monday, Seth Kearns' daughter called 911 and said her father had shot her grandfather. Press release from the Williamson County Sheriff's Office.
Officers rushed to the Kearns family's home outside Georgetown, Texas, where they confronted Seth Kearns, who came out of the house with one hand raised and a coffee mug in the other, saying, “I'm going to kill you now.'' “I just got it,” he reportedly said. his parents.
Officers then entered the home and found Alfred Kearns dead on the living room floor and a shotgun and spent shells lying in the kitchen area.
Susan Kearns' body was found in her son's bedroom.
The former judge suffered injuries to his elbow, the inside of his forearm and the left side of his ribcage, the affidavit states. His wife appeared to have been shot in her left shoulder and collarbone, and paramedics bandaged her and tried unsuccessfully to save her life.
“Preliminary investigation suggests the murder stemmed from a disagreement that escalated into family violence and death,” the sheriff's office said in a statement.
The son of an FBI agent, Alfred Kearns was born into a family of law enforcement officers that included Texas Rangers and Border Patrol agents. The American Statesman in Austin reported. He retired in 2013 after serving as a judge in the 368th District Court for 24 years.
Susan Kearns was a former elementary school teacher who was described by family friends as “a pillar of the community.”
“This extremely tragic incident is a particularly tragic one, especially given Alfred 'Bert' Kearns' esteemed status as a former district judge,” Williamson County Sheriff's Office Commander John Foster said in a news release. It has shocked our community.” “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families affected by this heartbreaking event.”
Seth Kearns is being held without bail in the Williamson County Jail. The death penalty in Texas can be life imprisonment or the death penalty.
