Doyline, LA: Murder Suspect No Stranger To Law

Authorities Took His Threats Very Seriously

POSTED: 11:25 am CDT June 7, 2010
UPDATED: 6:55 pm CDT June 7, 2010

Doyline, La. -- A Lafayette Parish murder suspect who told his estranged wife he was coming to Webster Parish "to inflict some bodily harm" was found dead Monday in woods near the woman's house, Webster Sheriff Gary Sexton said. Authorities said it appeared he committed suicide.
The manhunt for Timothy Rogers, 46, had concentrated around the small town of Doyline.
Rogers was suspected of shooting his father Sunday night in Lafayette. He had called his estranged wife, who lived in Doyline with their children, and told her he had just killed his father and was coming to the northwest Louisiana parish to harm himself or others, Sexton said.
The estranged wife notified Webster Parish sheriff's deputies early Monday. They called Lafayette police, who found the father murdered. That led law officers in Webster Parish to put the family in protective custody and launch a manhunt using law officers, a helicopter and search dogs.
Rogers' car was found in woods near his estranged wife's home about 5 a.m. His body was found shortly after 9 a.m. in woods off Louisiana Highway 163. Sexton said Rogers was dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and his body was about 150 yards from his estranged wife's house.
Rogers was awaiting prosecution in Webster Parish on charges of forcible rape and domestic abuse, Sexton said. He had been arrested in March.