Will continue serving life sentences in stabbing deaths of two women

The state Supreme Court has denied an appeal for a Lake Charles man convicted in 2014 of second-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of two women.

Mark Wayne Thibodeaux is serving two concurrent life sentences plus 25 years in prison without the benefit of parole for the murders of Bridgette Pryor, 50, and Carla Ledoux, 25, and the attempted murder of Joseph Newman.

Pryor’s body was found on the sidewalk in front of a house on Prater Street while Ledoux’s body was found in the house. Both women had multiple stab wounds.

At trial in state district court, jurors heard dramatic testimony from Newman, who said Thibodeaux stabbed him repeatedly with a butcher knife. Newman said he eventually fled the house and went to a friend’s house who he said helped him tend to his wounds.

Newman said he did not seek medical attention or call the police because he was so traumatized. He said he went home and passed out in his bed.

The next day, Newman said, police found him and he was hospitalized. Newman said an ambulance attendant told him he could have bled to death from his injuries, which included stab wounds to his arms, back, and the base of his skull.

When Thibodeaux was arrested, he was wearing a woman’s wig and authorities said he was on his way to Houston with family members.

Thibodeaux, who alleged in his appeal that he had ineffective counsel at trial, was convicted in February of 2014, and was sentenced by Judge Richard Wilson in March of that year.

In denying his appeal, the state Supreme Court said Thibodeaux “did not satisfy his post-conviction burden of proof.” Thibodeaux has now exhausted his appeals at the state level.Appeal Denied – graphic