JACKSON, Miss. – Louisiana authorities say they will charge a Mississippi man who was declared dead in 1994 with first-degree murder in the slaying of a 12-year-old Las Vegas girl.
Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Investigator Toney Edwards said Wednesday his department is waiting for federal authorities to hand over Thomas Steven Sanders so he can be charged in Lexis Roberts’ death. Her body was found Oct. 8 in the woods in Catahoula Parish.
Federal authorities charged Sanders with kidnapping the girl after his arrest Sunday in Mississippi.
Sanders also is a suspect in the death of Suellen Roberts, the girl’s mother. Officials say remains found Monday in Arizona are likely those of the woman.
The 53-year-old Sanders was declared dead years after walking out on his family in 1987.