An Oklahoma man has changed his plea to guilty in the 2011 kidnapping and death of a man whose body was dumped at a Texarkana racetrack.
Leslie Bruce Larcade, 48, of Broken Bow, Okla., originally was charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death. He pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors Friday.
Larcade changed his plea during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey in federal court in Texarkana.
Larcade’s wife, Chrystal Larcade, 38, faced similar charges. She pleaded guilty Nov. 8 to the conspiracy charge in exchange for a 30-year sentence in federal prison.
The Larcades were accused of kidnapping and killing Shannon Deval Watkins, 45, on Aug. 13, 2011.
According to court records, the Larcades kidnapped Watkins from Broken Bow to get a $1,000 bounty offered on Facebook by Wayne Lackey, a former Texarkana pawnshop employee.
Lackey was upset with Watkins over “some disrespect shown by Watkins” about a friend who had died, the court records state.
Chrystal Larcade lured Watkins to her home Aug. 12, 2011. Once in the house, Watkins was subdued and restrained, and a rope was placed around his neck.
The Larcades reportedly placed Watkins in the back of Leslie Bruce Larcade’s mother’s SUV and traveled to Texarkana to hand over Watkins.
Once in Texarkana, Chrystal Larcade called Lackey’s phone and the pawnshop, according to court records. Court records state that the morning of Aug. 13, Lackey spoke to Leslie Bruce Larcade and told him to calm Chrystal Larcade and to “forget about this.”
Lackey has not been charged in the case.
The Larcades reportedly continued to drive around the Texarkana area with Watkins restrained in the back.
“Watkins tried to get out of the vehicle,” documents state. “He [Leslie Bruce Larcade] stated he grabbed the rope wrapped around Watkins to try to keep him in the car. He stated at this time, his wife hit Watkins in the head with a club and stabbed him.”
About 8:45 a.m. Aug. 13, an employee of Texarkana Speedway saw a black SUV parked in the track’s barn, and a couple standing next to a body, according to court records. Chrystal Larcade reportedly told the employee she was trying to help someone. The couple then got in the SUV and drove away.
Watkins had a black trash bag over his head and a tightly pulled rope noose around his neck. His feet were bound with duct tape, and his wrists had wounds consistent with being bound. Two large gashes were visible on his forehead, and he had been stabbed. An autopsy later revealed Watkins died of asphyxiation by hanging.
About 6:20 p.m., a Grannis, Ark., police officer attempted to pull over an SUV that matched the description of Leslie Bruce Larcade’s mother’s car. The SUV began speeding, and as the chase ensued, officers noticed objects being tossed from the passenger-side window.
At one point, the SUV slowed, and Leslie Bruce Larcade bailed out. A few minutes later, Chrystal Larcade wrecked the SUV, got out and tried to run. Both were arrested.
Blood recovered from the SUV’s backseat matched Watkins’ DNA.
Items recovered from the area where Leslie Bruce Larcade was thought to be hurling evidence from the SUV’s window include a .38-caliber pistol, knives and a stun gun.
On Aug. 16, a citizen found Watkins’ wallet and a pair of bloody handcuffs with remnants of duct tape stuck to them in the area where the two were caught.
Initially, the Larcades were charged with abuse of a corpse, kidnapping and capital murder by Miller County prosecutors. Those charges remain pending.
Arkansas, Pages 16 on 11/27/2013