21-year-old man who is accused of killing his parents and girlfriend, as well as her father and brother, has been arrested in Virginia.
Dakota Theriot was captured early Sunday morning by the Sheriff’s Office in Richmond County following an overnight manhunt.
Theriot has been charged with five counts of first-degree murder, illegal use of weapons, home invasion, and theft of a motor vehicle.
He allegedly killed his girlfriend Summer Ernest, 20, her father Billy Ernest, 43, and her brother Tanner Ernest, 17, before fatally shooting his own parents Elizabeth and Keith Theriot, both 50, shortly before 9am on Saturday.
Theriot was arrested at his grandmother’s house in Warsaw, Virginia just after 7am on Sunday morning.
Authorities said he had driven 16 hours and more than 1,000 miles in Billy Ernest’s truck, hoping to find a safe place to hide with his family in Virginia.
Although Theriot did not contact his grandmother or other relatives, they stayed in a hotel on Saturday night after hearing about the shooting, according to The Advocate.
Theriot’s grandmother had returned to her home with officers on Sunday morning to check on her house when Theriot pulled into the driveway.
Authorities say Theriot shot his parents Keith Theriot and Elizabeth Theriot, both 50, at their home in Ascension Parish around 9am on Saturday morning
Before shooting his parents, Theriot allegedly shot dead Summer Ernest, 20, (above) and her father and brother
He was taken into custody without incident and has since made statements about the murders.
‘He seemed tired, had a little bit of sleep deprivation, and there were some statements made,’ said Richmond County Sheriff Stephan Smith.
