Victor Paul Martin was 33 when he was fatally shot on June 28, 2018, at his home on Melanson Road in Lacassine, Louisiana. Deputies first responded to a report of a possible shooting at that residence and found a crime scene; Martin was missing. Investigators later recovered evidence at a Lake Charles residence and early the next morning returned to Melanson Road, where they located Martin’s body.

Authorities identified an acquaintance, Matthew Clement Markwood of Lake Charles, as the suspect. Markwood was accused of shooting Martin multiple times with a shotgun while Martin was on his porch and then using his truck to move the body to a wooded area near the end of Melanson Road. Martin’s family says Markwood confessed but shifted his account over time; the family called the killing nasty and gruesome and said the reduced charges left them feeling let down.

Anyone who knew Victor, his movements that day, or who has information about what happened is asked to come forward.