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An elderly Louisiana man was arrested and charged for allegedly murdering his wife nearly 44 years ago, authorities announced Saturday.
Chester Vegas Sr., 78, has been charged with second degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing his 32-year-old wife Diane Vegas in 1977, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office announced.
“We hope this arrest can bring some closure to the Vegas family who have been living with questions about Diane’s death for nearly 44 years,” Sheriff Craig Webre said in a statement. “New information combined with the initial investigation helped us build probable cause for the arrest.”
Diane was found inside The Chicken House in Golden Meadow on Oct. 10, 1977 with a single bullet wound to the back, police said. Vegas Sr. was initially considered a suspect, but the investigation went cold for decades, police said.
Detectives Make Arrest In 1977 Golden Meadow Murder Case https://t.co/GGaqYY8aIv
— Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (@LafourcheSO) June 12, 2021
The case was reopened in Oct. of 2020 after authorities obtained new information. It is unclear what the new information was. (RELATED: Police Hope $50,000 Reward Will Help Crack Cold Case Of Murdered 15-Year-Old Girl)
Police say they used the new information to establish probable cause for Vegas’ arrest and obtained the warrant on Friday.
Vegas Sr., was arrested Friday and was released hours later after he posted a $50,000 bail, police said.