A tragedy occurred in Georgetown, Texas, as retired District Judge Alfred “Burt” Carnes, 74, and his wife, Susan H. Carnes, 74, were found dead in their residence.
Their son, Seth B. Carnes, 45, has been taken into custody and is facing capital murder charges for the deaths of his parents.
On the night of January 9, 2024, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about a shooting at the Carnes’ home, near Georgetown.
As officers arrived on the scene, they encountered Seth Carnes leaving the premises. He confessed to the killings, as stated in the press release from the sheriff’s office.
The officers found Burt Carnes dead in the living room, having suffered shotgun wounds, while Susan Carnes was discovered deceased in a bedroom above the garage.
Seth, who lived with his parents in a renovated garage adjacent to the main house, is currently detained at the Williamson County Jail without bond.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a family disagreement escalated to violence. The probable cause arrest affidavit, viewed by the Austin American-Statesman, revealed that Seth Carnes told officers he killed his mother because he believed she was attempting to put a sleeping pill in his mouth, and subsequently shot his father.
The initial 911 call was made by the couple’s 19-year-old granddaughter, who claimed her father had shot her grandfather.
Burt Carnes served for almost a quarter-century in the Williamson County 368th District Court, establishing a distinguished career as a judge.
Respected for his integrity and his handling of high-profile cases, Carnes was a figure revered in the legal community. His family has deep law enforcement roots, including an FBI agent father and relatives who served as a Texas Ranger, a Border Patrol agent, and a Wilson County sheriff.
Upon his retirement in October 2013, Judge Carnes expressed his dedication to law over politics in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman. “Early on, I decided that I was going to be a judge, not a politician,” he said. “You’ve got to follow the law and, within the bounds of the law, do what you think is right.”
His contribution was recognized by Texas Representative John Carter, who praised Carnes as a diligent and fair judge with a profound comprehension of the law.
Susan Carnes was a retired school teacher who had served the Taylor and Georgetown independent school districts, and a well-known figure in the community.
Commander John Foster of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division addressed the impact of the tragic incident, acknowledging the shock and sorrow it has provoked within the community.
The Williamson County Sheriff’s Office assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to public safety and confirmed that the investigation continues.
