KATC.com

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A 36-year-old Kaplan man accused in the March 2010 killing of Tim Falgout,a Pizza Hut delivery driver, has been sentenced to life in prison as a habitual offender.

Click to Read More and see additional updates

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A 36-year-old Kaplan man accused in the March 2010 killing of Tim Falgout,a Pizza Hut delivery driver, has been sentenced to life in prison as a habitual offender.

A prosecutor said Thursday that Aaron Orlando Richards will serve life in prison after he was convicted of three separate crimes of violence.

Prosecutor Alan Haney said Richard's most-recent conviction occurred in October 2011 when a jury of 12 returned a guilty verdict for an April 2009 second-degree robbery outside of Buffalo Wild Wings in Lafayette.

The other two violent crimes occurred in Vermilion Parish.

He has been jailed without bail since August 2010 when he was arrested in the March 2010 stabbing death of Timothy Falgout.

___

Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com

A year ago this week, a man named Aaron Richard was arrested for the murder of pizza delivery driver Timothy Falgout.

On the first anniversary of Richard's arrest, we have an exclusive report, highlighting details of the case that were never made public.

First, let's refresh your memory about the death of Tim Falgout.

In March 2010, he was stabbed to death on Rue Canard in Youngsville.

He was a Pizza Hut driver on a delivery.

He was attacked and robbed and for months, the sheriff's office investigated, but made no arrests.

Then in early August the sheriff's office arrested Aaron Richard. They say they found his DNA at the crime scene.

A few weeks later, a man named Marcus Feast was arrested- charged with principal to murder--he's the accused getaway driver.

Even though the case has been out of the news, for the past year KATC has been investigating.

Reporter Mike Magnoli uncovered some clues from the case file:

...

Let's revisit Rue Canard- Deputies find the murder weapon, there's DNA on the blade of the knife, on the handle. The crime lab says its 31 year old Aaron Richard's.

"Innocent until proven guilty," - he yelled that to reporters during his perp walk last year.

But there's other DNA to be considered, on the back pants pocket of the victim: A sample entered into the FBI Codis system matches a man named Thomas Evans.

From there, the story takes us to a town called Boyce in central Louisiana, about an hour and 40 minutes from Lafayette. 7 days before Tim Falgout was murdered, 26 year old Thomas Evans was murdered here. He was shot to death, his body stuffed into a suitcase, his killer then shot himself after a stand-off with deputies. So how does evan's DNA end up at the crime scene in Youngsville?

"That is unusual. I don't know the story behind it, but for DNA to be found seven days after, yes, that's unusual."

Herman Walters is the sheriff's spokesman in Rapides Parish.

Something bad happened in that house, we found a body stuffed into a suitcase, you don't see that everyday.

Case documents show a Lafayette sheriff's detective reached out to Rapides Parish to look into a connection, but that detective came to this conclusion:

"Evans died seven days before Falgout's homicide, he could not be a donor to any evidence in the crime scene in Lafayette Parish."

But that doesn't sit well with Aaron Richard's court-appointed attorney Harold Register. Register would not go on camera, but he does tell us he is intrigued and alarmed about the bizarre DNA. Especially since the sheriff's office told us last year they arrested Aaron based largely on DNA evidence.

And there's more, another DNA sample found at the crime scene was never identified, but was conclusively female. Everyone in Falgout and Richard's inner circle was tested, so we can rule out wives and relatives.

The Sheriff's office declined comment, so did the District Attorney.
...

As for the Falgout family, KATC talked to Tim's sister, she says she vaguely remembers hearing about the DNA from a detective, beyond that she didn't want to comment.

New details in the murder of Pizza Hut deliveryman Tim Falgout. Both suspects arrested in connection with the killing entered their pleas Monday in a Lafayette courtroom.

Falgout was stabbed to death while delivering a pizza to a Youngsville family on March 29, 2010. Robbery is believed to be the motive.

Aaron Richards pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder during Monday's arraignment. Marcus Feast also pleaded not guilty. Feast is charged with Principal to First Degree Murder for his alleged role as the getaway driver the night Falgout was killed.

The two are being held without bond in a Lafayette jail. No trial date has been set.

The Grand Jury indicts two men in the murder of Pizza Hut Delivery driver Tim Falgout.

The Grand Jury found that Aaron Orlando Richards on or about the March 29, 2010 commited first degree murder.

They found that Marcus Joseph Feast knowingly and intentionally participated in the commission of the first degree murder of Falgout. Feast is believed to be the driver of the Gold Mercedes the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office has tied to the murder.

Richards was also indicted for attempted first degree murder of Vicencio Mar Valdelamar in a separate case. The attack happened on March 26. He's also indicted for theft by purse snatching on March 30, 2010. The Grand Jury for the 15th Judicial Circuit also indicted Feast for unauthorized use of an access card, stemming from that purse snatching incident in Lafayette.

34-year old Richards is being held without bond. 42-year old Feast is also being held without bond for the principal to first degree murder charge. Both are currently in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center.

New information tonight in the Pizza Hut delivery driver murder case.

34-year old Aaron Richards, the man accused of killing Tim Falgout is getting a new public defender.

Richards was arrested and charged with first degree murder back in August.

His case is now being turned over to attorney James Dixon.

No reason was given for the switch from public defender Harold Register.

News of a second arrest in the murder case of pizza deliveryman Tim Falgout has re-opened the wounds for the victim's family.

"It's heartbreak all over again," said Falgout's sister, Lindy Soileau.

41 year old Marcus Feast of Lafayette has been charged with principle to 1st degree murder in the case. He's suspected of driving a Gold Mercedes Benz seen in video surveillance following Falgout before his murder. The video was captured by a homeowner in the 300-block of Chemin Metairie in Youngsville, about a quarter of a mile away from where Falgout was found stabbed to death.

Soileau and the rest of Falgout's family were informed of the arrest Tuesday afternoon. Soileau says they're grateful to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office and the community for all the support.

"We just pray that we can move on and justice can start being served," said Soileau.

Feast is being held on $100,000 bond at the Lafayette Parish jail. Deputies will not rule out the possibility that there could be more arrests down the road.

Jim Hummel

KATC's Jim Hummel is following the latest developments in the Pizza Hut murder case. Today, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's office made another arrest.

This time it's a man named Marcus Feast, charged with principle to 1st degree murder. He's suspected of driving a Gold Mercedes Benz seen in video surveillance following delivery driver Tim Falgout before his murder. The video was captured by a homeowner in the 300-block of Chemin Metairie, about a quarter of a mile away from where Falgout was found stabbed to death.

Last month, Aaron Richard from Kaplan was arrested and charged with first degree murder. We'll have the latest tonight at 5, 6 and 10.

KATC has learned more about the man arrested for the murder of a pizza delivery driver. Aaron Orlando Richards has been in and out of jail since he was a teenager. He served 10 years in prison.

But, did the newlywed and stepfather of three brutally murder delivery driver Tim Falgout? His criminal history tells one story. It includes second degree battery from 1995, assault with a dangerous weapon in November of 1996, along with discharging a firearm and criminal damage to property. He also was held on a $40,000 bond for a cocaine charge in 1996. By 2009 he faced and armed robbery charge in Kaplan. 2010 brought a second degree robbery charge in Lafayette.

Richards also had an outstanding felony warrant waiting on him in Kaplan for aggravated second degree battery after an attack at a convenience store. A man claims Richards struck him in the face with a glass bottle and then hit him with his fist after the man asked for a ride outside the Food and Fun.

"He had to go to the emergency officers couldn't tell how bad he was hurt because his face was full of blood," said Kaplan Chief Boyd Adams. The alleged attack happened March 27th, two nights before the Pizza Hut murder. But police couldn't track-down Richards to make an arrest. "It is frustrating, you know, I would've loved to have caught him before something else happened like that," said Adams.

Richards' wife Natasha paints a vastly different picture than the criminal history shows. She says her husband may be a tattoo-covered fighter and convicted felon but she insists, he's not a murderer. The two married June 30th of this year. Richards got himself a job selling cars in Virginia and he started attending church every Sunday.

"Aaron is not this monster that he seems to be portrayed as to everybody. Aaron is a flawed human being, aaron has a past that he's trying to let go of, that he's trying to move on from and build a better life for himself, build a better life with me and the kids."

Richards' family in Kaplan told KATC, they are sorry for Falgout's family. They just want justice to take its course and they say Aaron is innocent until proven guilty. Investigators say DNA will prove their case.

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) A 34-year-old Lafayette man has been arrested in the March 29 stabbing death of 50-year-old Timothy Falgout.

The Advertiser reports Aaron Orlando Richards was arrested Thursday and booked with first-degree murder.

Falgout, who was delivering a pizza in Youngsville, was found dead next to his vehicle in front of a customer's home.

Authorities said Falgout's wallet was missing.

Lt. Craig Stansbury, a spokesman for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, said DNA evidence found at Falgout's crime scene help investigators link Richards to the death.

It was not immediately known whether Richards has an attorney.

___

Information from: The Advertiser, http://www.theadvertiser.com

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) A 34-year-old Lafayette man has been arrested in the March 29 stabbing death of 50-year-old Timothy Falgout.

The Advertiser reports Aaron Orlando Richards was arrested Thursday and booked with first-degree murder.

Falgout, who was delivering a pizza in Youngsville, was found dead next to his vehicle in front of a customer's home.

Authorities said Falgout's wallet was missing.

Lt. Craig Stansbury, a spokesman for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, said DNA evidence found at Falgout's crime scene help investigators link Richards to the death.

It was not immediately known whether Richards has an attorney.

___

Information from: The Advertiser, http://www.theadvertiser.com

UPDATE- 7:00 PM

A BREAK IN THE CASE OF A MURDERED PIZZZA HUT DELIVERY DRIVER.
AFTER FIVE MONTHS THE LAFAYETTE SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTS THE PERSON THEY BELIEVE KILLED TIM FALGOUT.

KATC'S MIKE MAGNOLI IS LIVE WITH THE STORY.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS IT WAS PRIMARILY DNA EVIDENCE THAT BROUGHT ABOUT THIS ARREST. 34 YEAR OLD AARON RICHARDS IS IN THE PARISH JAIL RIGHT NOW AND HE'S CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

RICHARD HID IS FACE FROM THE CAMERA AS HE WAS BEING WALKED TO THE PARISH JAIL, BUT FROM UNDERNEATH HIS SHIRT HE MENTIONED HAVING CHILDREN AND SAID THAT HE WOULD ANSWER TO GOD BUT HE DID NOT SAY HE WAS GUILTY. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PICKED RICHARDS UP TODAY IN COURT. HE WAS THERE TO FACE CHARGES FOR A 2009 ROBEERY. WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT THE COURT HOUSE DEPUTIES WERE WAITING. IN ADDITION TO THE DNA FROM THE CRIME SCENE RICHARDS VEHICLE WAS ON THAT SECURITY VIDEO AFTER ALL, NOT THE BLACK SUV BUT A CAR THAT SHOWED UP A FEW MINUTES LATER

---

On Thursday August 5, 2010 Detectives with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office have arrested 34 year old Aaron Richards of Lafayette for the alleged murder of Timothy Falgout.

Falgout was the Pizza Hut delivery driver who was stabbed to death on March 29, 2010 in the 300 Block of Rue Canard Street as he was making a delivery.
During the investigation detective's collected DNA evidence at the scene of the murder, which was submitted to the Acadiana Crime Lab for analysis.

On June 23, 2010 the Acadiana Crime Lab confirmed a DNA match to the evidence submitted belonged to Aaron Orlando Richards. With this and other evidence detectives obtained a warrant for 1st Degree Murder for Aaron Orlando Richards. He was arrested at the Lafayette Parish Court House as he was attending a trail for First Degree Robbery.

Aaron Orlando Richards has been booked into the LafayetteParishCorrectionalCenter on a warrant for first Degree Murder with a $250,000.00 bond.
---------------------------------------

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office has arrested 34 year old Aaron Richards in connection with the 1st degree murder of pizza delivery driver Timothy Falgout. More on TV-3 at 5,6 and 10.

March 31, 2010 Story

April 5, 2010 Story

The Lafayette Parish Sheriffs Office has been contacted by the local Pizza Hut in Lafayette (American Pizza Company) who advised, they are offering a $10,000 reward to anyone that gives Law Enforcement information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the Murder of Timothy Falgout. Mr. Falgout is the Pizza Hut driver who was murdered on Monday March 29, 2010 as he was delivering an order in the 300 Block of Rue Canard Street.

Restrictions do apply to the reward, some are:

The information given must be new and unknown to Law Enforcement.

The first callers correct information will be awarded the reward.

The reward will only be offered until October 20, 2010

Law Enforcement Personnel are not eligible.

If you have any information call the Lafayette Sheriffs Office at 236-5895

Standing room only Monday, as friends and family gathered for the funeral of a slain pizza delivery man. Tim Falgout, 50, was robbed and stabbed to death one week ago.

It was an agonizing few hours for family as they said goodbye to Tim on earth. Loved ones pored over pictures before the morning funeral mass at St. Pius in Lafayette. The pictures showed Tim as a toddler, an oldie in front of his Mustang and one with his loving parents.

During the Mass, Tim was described as a man among men, a leader without performing and a man of reliability. Tim was involved with the Community of Jesus Crucified, the Come Lord Jesus program and the 4th day committee of the youth Cursillo movement.

Faith tells his family that he's just beginning his "life." But the way he left them, so violently, leaves an unsettled feeling. The man who spent his life humbly and quietly serving God, was robbed and stabbed multiple times while delivering a pizza on Rue Canard Street near Youngsville.

"My prayer is that whoever did this would come to know the mercy of God and the forgiveness of God, I mean what better testimony for somebody who would have so much pain and evil in their heart to turn their life around and give God glory," said Lindy Soileau, sister of the victim.

With few leads and no arrests, they wait and pray. "I want justice for Tim, but I couldn't live with the thought of the person who did this dying with this on their soul," said Soileau.

The Falgouts don't want others to lose their faith over Tim's senseless death. The devout Catholic would never want to have that kind of impact.

"He touched so many lives in his ways," said his sister Susette Hunt. When asked if he might be looking down over his own funeral, Hunt replied "absolutely and he's going, you people down there are crazy and you don't need to do all this fuss over me."

He was buried in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.

Detectives are still seeking the driver of a black SUV for questioning. The surveillance images of the vehicle following closely behind Falgout was captured just before he turned into Hunter's Ridge Subdivision to deliver a pizza.

Funeral services are today for a Pizza Hut delivery man who was stabbed to death while on the job.

50-year old Tim Falgout was discovered dead next to his vehicle on Rue Canard Street near Youngsville.

There has not been an arrest, but the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's office is still looking for the driver of a black SUV that was captured on surveillance video following Falgout closely before his death.

Tim Falgout would've celebrated his 51st birthday next week, but he'll be buried instead. The Pizza Hut delivery driver's life was violently taken Monday night just before 9:30 at 306 Rue Canard Street. His lifeless body was discovered by the Youngsville-area family who ordered the pizza.

"The caller called for a pizza and was waiting for that pizza to come, noticed the time was passing by and actually looked outside to see if they could see anyone. Did notice a vehicle at the end of the driveway, did notice that there was someone laying next to the vehicle," said Lt. Craig Stansbury.

Tuesday, Lafayette Parish Sheriff's deputies stopped cars and knocked on doors, looking for clues in the quiet middle class neighborhood. "They basically just came up and said do you have any kind of video surveillance that might add to their investigation, they were also kind of curious if we had heard anything," said neighbor Jon Wiebe.

So far the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office has made no arrests. But they believe the motive could be robbery. "We do have some items missing from the victim," said Lt. Stansbury.

Those who know Falgout say he would've given a thief anything he had and even while dying, he would have prayed for his killer's soul.

Falgout was a devout catholic, his sister Lindy Soileau tells KATC that he would carry a rosary in his pocket on deliveries for Pizza Hut and he would also tell his customers God bless you.

On the night he was killed, Falgout was planning on attending holy hour at "Community of Jesus Crucified," where the Holy Rosary Institute holds around the clock adoration. It wasn't like him to be a no show. "He was very faithful, he would be here every Monday at 10 o'clock," said Fr. Michael Champagne.

He spent a couple years working to become a priest, but stopped so he could help his ailing parents. He spent Monday working in his mother's yard, and barely had time for a quick shower before he needed to be at Pizza Hut.

"Tim was a very, very generous very simple fellow, very quiet, but very, very influential in a very quiet way. He loved the lord very much," said Fr. Champagne.

Friends can't believe he was taken in this way. Tuesday, Ted Deshotels arrived at the adoration chapel to pray for Tim. "Such a good pure person like Tim, to be attacked in the way he was attacked and killed, the brutality of it is just terrible," said Deshotels.

Soileau said her brother was her best friend and Christ-like. The only consolation for her, is he will be in heaven.

Visitation for Falgout is planned for Monday morning April 5 starting at 9:00 at St. Pius. Funeral services follow at 10:30 a.m.

Christopher Fuller with the corporate Pizza Hut office in Dallas, Texas released this statement: "Our hearts and prayers go out to our employee and his family. We are currently working closely with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office as they conduct an investigation."

A Pizza Hut delivery driver found stabbed the death while on the job has been identified as 50 year old Tim Falgout.The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office says that Falgout's wallet was missing and have deemed robbery to be the motive for the murder. Investigators worked through the night to find the killer. Officers say they are still investigating but have no suspects yet. Falgout's family says that funeral arrangements are pending.

A Youngsville resident ordered a pizza and wondered why it was so late Monday night. She looked out her window in the 300 block of Rue Canard Street and saw the delivery driver lying motionless next to his vehicle in her driveway.

She called 911 just before 9:30 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the man dead from multiple stab wounds.

A Pizza Hut delivery driver is stabbed the death while on the job.The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office says the victim is a 49-year old white male. Investigators worked through the night to find the killer, and a motive. But as of Tuesday morning, they still have no suspects.

A Youngsville resident ordered a pizza and wondered why it was so late Monday night. She looked out her window in the 300 block of Rue Canard Street and saw the delivery driver lying motionless next to his vehicle in her driveway.

She called 911 just before 9:30 p.m. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the man dead from multiple stab wounds.