Following a five-day jury trial in the 11th Judicial District Court, a Sabine Parish jury late Friday night returned guilty verdicts on two counts of first-degree murder against Blake Joseph Kendall in connection with two separate shooting deaths that occurred in late 2017.
Sabine Parish District Attorney Don Burkett said the verdicts reflect accountability under the law for the defendant and justice for the victims’ families.
“These verdicts are the result of the hard work of law enforcement, investigators, and our prosecution team,” Burkett said. “We thank the jury for their careful consideration of the facts and for paying close attention to the testimony presented throughout the week. We recognize the emotional toll this case placed on everyone involved, particularly the victims’ families. Justice requires that we be thorough and deliberate, and we hope the jury’s verdict will help the families continue their healing.”
Kendall was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder relating to the shooting deaths of Jerry Scott and Adam Jeter. Scott was killed in August 2017 at his residence, and Jeter was killed in December 2017 at his mailbox. The murders occurred in separate incidents several months apart.
The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Anna Garcie and Assistant District Attorney Jim Seaman. During the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from 22 witnesses, including current and retired Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, current and retired agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, firearms identification experts, digital forensics experts, and civilian witnesses with critical information. Through testimony and physical evidence, the prosecution established that both victims were killed with the same handgun and placed the defendant at both crime scenes. Jurors viewed hours of law enforcement interviews with the defendant and examined ballistic evidence, including the firearm used in the murders.
Following the verdict, First Assistant District Attorney Anna Garcie stated, “This case required years of investigative work and a team effort with law enforcement and investigators to bring the facts before the jury. Our responsibility was to present the facts clearly and hold the defendant accountable within the law for the loss of two lives. I am grateful for the work of law enforcement and for the jury’s careful evaluation of the evidence, and I hope this verdict brings a measure of justice and closure to the Scott and Jeter families.”
11th Judicial District Judge Verity Gentry scheduled sentencing for April 20. The convictions carry a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the benefit of probation, parole, or commutation of sentence.