Two men accused in the fatal shooting of a Lacassine couple nearly six years ago are facing more than 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter charges as part of a plea deal reducing their charges in district court.

Jordan Alexander Legros, 27, of Welsh and Javari Wayne Guidry, 29, of Houston and were both facing second-degree murder charges, but pled guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in the December 2018 double homicide of Walter Joseph Gotreaux, 72, and his wife, Darlene Cecelia Gotreaux, 70. The couple were found shot multiple times inside their bedroom by sheriff deputies conducting a welfare check.

Authorities said at the time, robbery appeared to be the motive of the slayings.

“After almost six years since the incident occurred, and having worked with four different administrations through the District Attorney’s Office, the Gotreaux family is now able to begin closing a chapter of their lives that is unimaginable,” Jeff Davis District Attorney Lauren Heinen siad. “The strength of this family and their faith is palpable. Our office worked diligently and directly with the Gotreaux family to ensure that they had a favorable outcome after patiently waiting for justice to be served.”

Legros pled guilty to manslaughter and obstruction of justice and was sentenced to serve 20 years for manslaughter and thirty 35 years for obstruction of justice, as part of a plea deal with the prosecutor in exchange for a lighter sentence. The sentences are run concurrently.

Guidry pled no-contest to manslaughter and aggravated burglary and was sentenced to 30 years for manslaughter and 30 years for aggravated burglary, according to the plea deal. No-contest is essentially an admission of guilt without actually saying it

Both men were initially charged with first-degree murder, but a grand jury later determined the case better fit second-degree murder in March 2019. The charges were recently downgraded to manslaughter under the plea deal.

The couple were found in the bedroom of their home located on U.S. 90, just west of Lacassine, after deputies went to the residence to check on them after receiving a welfare concern from a neighbor.

At the time, then-Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff Ivy Woods said the murders appeared to have been a “targeted act” toward the Gotreaux family.

Authorities said the two men had some connection to the victims through associates, including contacts with people who were close to the couple.

The couple was last seen alive early on the morning of Dec. 16 by a farmhand who had driven them to Our Lady of Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Lake Charles for Eucharistic Adoration because Walter Gotreaux was not feeling well, according to Woods.

The farmhand, who lives nearby, told authorities he had dropped the couple off at home around 2 a.m. after they returned home from church. He said he helped the couple inside and left. He told authorities everything appeared fine at that time.

The farmhand later contacted authorities around 3 p.m. because he could not contact the couple.

When deputies arrived for a welfare check, they found the door kicked in and discovered the couple’s bodies inside.

The case was investigated by Travis Savoy of the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office with Assistant District Attorney Burleigh Doga serving as prosecutor.