NPSO Investigating Invasion Homicide in Campti

Campti, La - Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives are actively investigating a home invasion homicide near Campti according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Tuesday evening, March 14, 2023 at approximately 11:06pm, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of an unresponsive male lying on the floor of his residence in the 100 block of Jim Bell Road, north of Campti, La.

While on scene, deputies made contact with a relative that stated he went to the residence to check on his uncle.  Soon afterwards, he observed the front door breached and observed his Uncle lying on the floor unresponsive.

Deputies entered the residence discovering a deceased male lying on the floor identified as 71-year-old Mark L. Hailey, of Campti, La.

Deputies say while speaking with the relative they learned Mr. Hailey’s 2015 Ford F-350  pickup truck, maroon in color, was missing from the residence. A BOLO was then issued for the truck. 

Natchitoches Parish Asst. Coroner Steven Clanton pronounced Hailey dead at the scene from apparent blunt and sharp force trauma.

The body has been transported to a Shreveport Forensic Pathologist Office for an autopsy to determine the matter and cause of death.

The case is being investigated as a homicide.

On Wednesday morning, March 15, shortly after 7:30am, NATCOM 911 Center received a call of a suspicious vehicle being abandoned on Tauzin Island Road in the Grand Ecore area near Natchitoches.

Deputies responded and discovered the abandoned vehicle to be the victim’s 2015 Ford F-350 truck.

Detectives with the NPSO along with 3 Red River Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Technicians processed the vehicle for evidence.