A Bernice man is dead and his 36-year-old son is under arrest for murder.
On Saturday, Union Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported stabbing at the Bernice Villa Apartments at 115 W. 4th Street in Bernice. On arrival, they discovered a man deceased inside the apartment.
The man was identified as Delmar Watts, Sr., 71, of Bernice. Criminal investigators who response determined Watts was likely deceased several hours before UPSO was contacted.
Investigators identified the victim’s son, Delmer Watts Jr., 36, as the suspect. Watts Jr. was still at the scene and taken into custody without incident. A hatchet believed to be the weapon used, along with other evidence linking Watts Jr. to the crime were recovered at the scene. According to UPSO, Watts Jr. reportedly has a history of conflict with his father and appeared to be impaired during questioning.
Delmer Watts, Jr. was booked into the Union Parish Detention Center for first degree murder.
This incident remains under investigation.
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