The Texas man who murdered his father, a well-respected judge, and his mother, a teacher of nearly 30 years, at their home outside Austin has admitted guilt, court records show.
Seth B. Carnes, 47, on Monday pleaded guilty to capital murder and will spend the rest of his days behind bars for the 2024 slayings of his parents, retired judge Alfred “Burt” Carnes and Susan H. Carnes, both 74. The younger Carnes was slated to go on trial next month before he entered the plea.
“This guilty plea ensures that Seth Carnes is held accountable for his actions in this heartbreaking case,” said District Attorney Shawn Dick in a statement released to local media. “Judge Carnes and his wife Susan were beloved members of the community where they lived and served. The loss of their lives in this manner devastated not only their family but many within the community who loved and respected them. While nothing can undo the profound loss suffered by the family of Judge and Mrs. Carnes, this outcome brings a measure of justice and finality to a deeply tragic situation. We hope this resolution can offer some small degree of peace to the family members as they continue to heal.”
As Law&Crime previously reported, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a shooting around 11:45 p.m. Jan. 8, 2024, in the 300 block of County Road 317 in the Georgetown area. When deputies arrived, they saw Seth Carnes leaving the home, a press release said. He allegedly told deputies he had just shot his parents. When deputies went inside, they found the judge and his wife dead from gunshot wounds.
Cops placed Seth Carnes under arrest. Investigators believe a disagreement escalated into “family violence and death.”
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