St. Landry Parish Sheriff's deputies have made an arrest in the April 2 death of a Lafayette man.
Stanley Aultman III, 64, was found dead on La. 359 near Washington on April 2. At first it was believed he was the victim of a pedestrian hit-and-run. But as they investigated, detectives found his injuries were more likely the result of foul play, a spokesman said.
Detectives contacted Aultman’s family who said he had left with a Nicholas Aymond, 24, to go to the store but never returned. The family also stated they left in a 2010 black Cadillac SRX belonging to Aultman.
Detectives entered the vehicle into the National Crime Information Center database. The vehicle was later discovered by the Fenton Police Department abandoned in a rural area. Inside the vehicle was blood stains and a bullet hole in the roof, and it was then towed to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office for processing.
Fenton police also located Nicholas Aymond and Emily Higdon, 24, in the rural area where the vehicle was located. At the time he was apprehended, Aymond allegedly was in possession of a black and grey backpack.
Both Aymond and Higdon were transported to the Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s Office until detectives with St. Landry could arrive. An arrest warrant was obtained on Aymond for unauthorized use of a movable.
Higdon provided a statement saying that Aymond picked her up at her home in Washington and took out a pistol then started shooting while he was driving, even shooting out the rear window. Higdon also stated that Aymond was driving erratic and lost control of the vehicle in Fenton where they hid in the grass until a Fenton officer located them.
Aymond provided a statement that he and Aultman were riding in the vehicle when Aultman took out a pistol and they began tussling over it. Aymond stated during the tussle, the pistol abruptly discharged. Aymond would not continue his statement and ended his statement. He was transported to the parish jail and booked on the warrant for unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Autopsy results showed that Aultman sustained multiple gunshots to his body and head and had injuries indicative of tire marks or drag marks to his shoulder. The findings of the autopsy conflicted with the statement Aymond gave to the detectives, the spokesman said.
Detectives located a witness at the scene who stated that they saw Aultman in the roadway and a person standing outside the vehicle who then quickly entered the vehicle and drive over Aultman.
A search warrant was obtained for the backpack Aymond was carrying when he was located in Fenton. Deputies found a Glock 22 (40 Caliber) inside a hidden compartment with extra magazines and a wide variety of drugs and paraphernalia.
Deputies booked Aymond with Second-Degree Murder; Unauthorized Use of a Movable; Possession of a Firearm by a Felon; Illegal Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Schedule I, II and III drugs; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
His bond has been set at $294,000.
Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz commended the boots on the groundwork his detectives did on the case. "Today's technological age is law enforcement's friend, trust me," said Guidroz. "When I tell you there are so many tools at our disposal to use to fight crime, it's unbelievable. You got to know what to use. Thank goodness that we have that capability to help us."
Guidroz would also like to thank the Fenton Police Department for their help on the case. Together the case was solved and a murderer is behind bars.
