Update: Covington murder suspect transferred to Angola, tried to escape St Tammany jail

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COVINGTON, La. —
St. Tammany Sheriff's Office reports that the suspect who is being accused of killing a retired pastor and a church associate attempted to escape jail.

Antonio Tyson, 49, is accused of killing Father Otis Young and his associate, Ruth Prats, and burning their bodies.

Tyson attempted to escape St. Tammany Parish Jail earlier this week. Tyson was rebooked on one count of attempted escape after he damaged jail property in his attempt.

Tyson was transferred to Angola Prison on Saturday morning on an emergency return order. He was transported without incident.

David Burns, 71, was also arrested for one count of principle to attempted escape after it was learned he assisted Tyson in his escape.

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Coroner Charles Preston said Thursday that the cause of death for Prats was blunt force trauma. Like Young, her death has been ruled a homicide.

During the joint news conference between the coroner and Covington Police Department, authorities began to reveal some details of the gruesome slayings, which have stunned many people across the north shore.

Young and Prats were beloved in Covington, both fixtures of St. Peter parish.

One man, identified as Antonio Tyson, has been arrested in the crime, booked with two counts of first-degree murder and several other crimes.

A motive has not been released and investigators would not reveal where they think the homicides took place or where the bodies were burned.

Tyson was captured on video surveillance filling a container of gasoline, but Lt. Kevin Collins could not immediately say what time that occurred.

But authorities said there is no evidence that Tyson knew either victim prior to the homicides. Tyson did not work for St. Peter School, officials said.

Investigators were first alerted by a call of a hit and run on East Boston Street next to Bogue Falaya Towers at 7:11 p.m. Sunday, Collins said. A witness provided the license plate number of the vehicle, a Honda CRV, and police learned that it belong to Prats. When they were unable to contact her, they contacted her family, and members were likewise unable to reach her.

Family members met police at Prats' home at 216 S. Washington Street and it was heard ringing in a nearby dumpster, Collins said. At that point, her name and vehicle description were entered into a national data base of missing persons.

Her vehicle was found by Covington police at 3:43 a.m. Monday parked at a drug store U.S. Business 190, with Tyson and a woman inside. They were taken to the Covington Police Department for questioning.

Police also learned that Otis had been at Prats' home earlier Sunday, and church officials checked his apartment and discovered he was not there.

The call that possible human remains had been discovered behind Dependable Glass came in at 5:49 a.m.

Video surveillance from St. Peter School showed Tyson, riding a bicycle in the neighborhood Sunday afternoon, Collins said and showed him speaking to both Prats and Otis at 3:53 p.m.

Video showed him parking his bicycle at a nearby grocery store and then walking to Prats' home, and knocking on the door, holding a knife behind his back in a crouched position.

Video then showed him leaving the house at 6:26 p.m. in Prats' vehicle.

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