The shocking killing of a beloved Louisiana mayor and his daughter stunned the local community as a senseless crime. However, a newly revealed piece of evidence may suggest there was a deeper motive.
Minden police said 82-year-old Joe Cornelius, former interim Minden mayor and city councilman, was found dead in his home on Sept. 1. Alongside him was his daughter, 31-year-old Keisha Miles, who was also found dead. Miles’ son, an 11-year-old, confessed to being the shooter, police claim. Attorney Christopher Murrell told the magazine Cornelius was allegedly physically abusive to the boy.
However, her eldest son, 17-year-old Uriah, discovered old, secretly recorded videos on his mother’s iCloud account following the killings which revealed even more about the family’s conflicts with Mr. Cornelius. In the videos, obtained but not released by PEOPLE, a few confrontations between Miles and her father from back in 2021 were documented.
“When you do things for me, you expect something in return. Like when you got the furniture, like when you got that car for me, you always wanted something in return and what you wanted was something sexual …right?” Miles asked Cornelius in one video, per the magazine.
The elderly man responded, “Whatever it is, you mostly enjoyed it.”
Miles then responded that she did not like it but felt like she “had to” in order to survive.
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She goes on to share sexually graphic details of what she says her father “needed” from her in exchange for goods.
At one point, when Miles makes the accusation that he “propositioned” her for sexual favors, Cornelius says, “I ain’t never said nothing like that.”
But when Miles persists in her accusations, Cornelius appears again to acknowledge that he molested her.
“You said you didn’t tell nobody about this. But you have,” he says.
To this, Miles responds: “You told me…you say…they will never believe you.”
Cornelius replies, “And nobody will.”
The videos may confirm a claim that before Miles was killed, she advised her sons to keep an eye on their 6-year-old sister in case Cornelius made any sexual advances toward her, the report says. The videos also provide the hard evidence police were lacking to back up the rumors around the neighborhood of Cornelius’ alleged conduct.
Though, the incident still leaves two young boys without a mother. The 11-year-old is being tried as a juvenile, police said. He’s entered a not guilty plea.