GEORGETOWN — A man accused of killing his parents is scheduled to go to trial in November.
Seth Carnes is charged with capital murder for the deaths of his parents, Alfred “Burt” Carnes, 74, and Susan Carnes, 74, in relation to a January incident.
After appearing in front of 277th District Judge Stacey Mathews Wednesday, May 8, Seth Carnes’ trial is set to begin Nov. 4.
The trial’s jury selection starts Nov. 1.
Russell D. Hunt Jr., Carnes’ lawyer, entered a plea of not guilty. Meanwhile, the prosecutor,
Michael Waldman, said he has not offered the defendant a deal.
Mathews, who has served as the court’s judge since 2013, said she’s glad the case is moving along and has a trial date scheduled, but said that it might have to be pushed back since expert analysis and evidence is needed. “That’s pretty quick in terms of a case like this,” Mathews said. In addition, a status hearing is set for July 17 and a pre-trial conference hearing is planned for Oct. 2.
The case
According to the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began to unfold shortly before 11:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at a residence in the 300 block of CR 317 near Georgetown.
An affidavit filed with an arrest warrant in 26th state District Judge Donna King’s court by sheriff’s Detective Peter Parks noted the defendant’s 19-year-old daughter called 911 and said her father shot her grandparents.
When deputies arrived, Seth Carnes walked out of the residence with one hand in the air and the other hand holding a coffee mug, according to court records.
As he was being detained, Carnes told deputies he killed his mother and father, according to the affidavit.
According to Parks, Carnes said he didn’t really remember what happened, but “knew that he shot his mother and father.”
The affidavit added that Carnes said he used a Remington 870 shotgun that was previously located next to his nightstand.
Carnes
