Boy, 10, Reportedly Confesses to Killing 82-Year-Old Former Louisiana Mayor and His Daughter

Mar. 15, 2025

Joe Cornelius (left); and Keisha Miles.Photo:Joe Cornelius/Facebook; Keisha Miles/Facebook

Joe Cornelius/Facebook; Keisha Miles/Facebook

A 10-year-old boy in Louisiana is in custody after he reportedly admitted to fatally shooting an 82-year-old former mayor and his 31-year-old daughter.

Joe Cornelius and his daughter Keisha Miles were found dead inside a Minden residence on Sunday, Sep. 1, according to local police,KTBS, theMinden Press-Heraldand theWebster Parish Journalreport.

The victims had been shot several times, police said, per KTBS.

“We have the suspect in custody now,” Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said of the 10-year-old, perMinden Press-Herald,adding, “We have a confession from the suspect.”

However, McIver also told KTBS that cases involving juveniles are complex.

“We’ve got a confession. But in these cases when you’re in, it’s very delicate. When you’re dealing with a child of this age, you know, in their stage, we’re looking at … was there motive, what was the motive?” he told the outlet.

“It’s one of those things that we’ve still got a lot of unanswered questions,” McIver continued.

He added that although the child was “scared,” he appeared to have a “mindset to commit a crime like this.” It wasn’t immediately clear what type of mindset McIver was referring to.

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Cornelius was well-known in the community and briefly served as interim mayor of Minden in 2013, per theWebster Parish Journaland KTBS.

In 1990, he founded the Concerned Citizens of Minden after a 10-year-old named Tray Day told him there were no activities for children in the summer,KTLAreports. The organization would go on to raise funds for scholarships for students.

In a statement, Minden mayor Nick Cox remembered him as a good friend and a politician devoted to his community.

source: people.com