A Louisiana man has been accused of murdering an elderly woman and then driving with her deceased body for a month. Christopher Talton Carter, aged 43, is currently on trial for the alleged offenses, as stated by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. He is facing charges of first-degree murder, identity theft, and improper disposal of human remains.
The victim, Sheila Ortega, was reported missing by her family on August 20, 2023, after they had not heard from her for a month. The following day, law enforcement located Ortega’s SUV in a shopping center parking lot in Lake Charles. Inside the vehicle, they discovered Ortega’s severely decomposed body. Carter, who was present at a nearby establishment, was promptly apprehended.
Carter had drawn suspicion the night before when he was stopped while driving Ortega’s SUV. He misled the authorities by claiming he had left Ortega in Arkansas with acquaintances. Despite this encounter, Carter was released. However, the situation escalated the next day when police found Ortega’s body during a search of the SUV.
Upon further questioning, Carter swiftly admitted to the crime. He confessed to authorities that he had murdered Ortega around a month prior and had subsequently taken out multiple loans using her personal information post her demise.
Initially, Carter faced a charge of second-degree murder, but this was elevated after authorities uncovered his alleged backup strategy. It was suggested that Carter had planned to use an insanity defense to avoid punishment, having researched ways to dispose of a body on Google.
His online search history revealed incriminating queries like “The best way to get rid of a body” and “Does the insanity plea work in a murder case.” This evidence suggested a premeditated effort to evade accountability for the heinous crime.