Ponthieux indicted for Larto murders posted Wednesday, October 17th, 2012 @ 12:32 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  The Catahoula Parish Grand Jury indicted Lee John Ponthieux Jr. on Monday on three counts of first degree murder. First degree murder carries a sentence of death or life in prison. Ponthieux, 41, who lived in Larto at 975 Moody Road, was indicted for the Aug. 20 murders of 76-year-old Annie Bell Adams; her daughter, 51-year-old Edris Adams Ellard; and 45-year-old John D. Ellard Jr. Debbie Adams, 57, the daughter and sister of two of the victims, was charged by the Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office with three counts of first degree murder in the case but was not indicted by the Grand Jury. The panel "pretermitted" the case against Debbie Adams, meaning it made no decision. She has been incarcerated since August. Seventh Judicial District Attorney Brad Burget said he "appreciated the hard work of the Grand Jury in this very difficult matter. We look forward to pursuing the case to trial." The murders occurred early on the morning of Aug. 20 on the property of Annie Bell Adams in Larto in southern Catahoula Parish. Catahoula Parish Sheriff James Glen Kelly previously reported that both of the female victims were stabbed in the neck, while the male victim was shot in the head. Both the shotgun and a blood-stained "large folding pocket knife" were recovered at the crime scene, he said. Ponthieux has reportedly confessed to the murders. Kelly said Debbie Adams was present during the murder of her mother. Catahoula Parish Sheriff's Office Investigator Tony Edwards said in court in August that Ponthieux has a lengthy arrest record dating back to 1988 and had been booked in Pineville, Rapides Parish and Thibodeaux on a variety of charges, including battery on a juvenile, burglary of an inhabited dwelling, simple burglary, theft of a truck, simple criminal damage to property, indecent behavior with a juvenile, illegal use of a weapon and resisting an officer. For the full story, subscribe to the The Concordia Sentinel's NEW E-Edition!