FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Autumn Payton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Autumn Payton Email: [email protected] Phone: (985) 748-7890

Livingston- District Attorney Scott M. Perrilloux reports that 21-year-old, Edward Island III, of Walker, LA, pleaded guilty to second degree murder of his mother, Tamila Wooley.

On January 1, 2014, Walker Police Department Officers were dispatched to an address on Village Drive in Walker in reference to a disturbance. Upon officers’ arrival, Tamila Wooley’s boyfriend stated that he knocked on the door of the residence and was greeted by Wooley’s two minor children. When he entered the master bedroom he saw Wooley’s deceased body and called 911. Wooley’s boyfriend went on to advise police that her eldest son, 17-year-old “Eddie” Island was missing from the residence as well as Wooley’s 1999 Black Lexus. Officers then secured the crime scene and began an investigation.

Officers made contact with neighbors who all stated that they had seen Island coming and leaving the residence driving Wooley’s vehicle for the past few days ranging December 29, 2013 through January 1, 2014.

Walker Police Department put an alert out to all surrounding agencies for Island and the 1999 black Lexus vehicle.

The Louisiana Office of Child Services was contacted as part of the investigation to speak with the two children who were at the scene. During the interview, the older of the two children stated that he knew his mother was deceased but couldn’t call his father or 911 because Island had his cellphone.

During the evidential processing of the scene, the murder weapon was located in the bedroom usually occupied by Island; also in the bedroom was Wooley’s wallet. At this time detectives requested a subpoena in order to obtain a location of the cellphone being used by Island.

With the assistance of Verizon’s Legal Compliance Department, Island was located driving his mother’s vehicle and brought to Walker Police Department to be advised of his mother’s death and to be interviewed for any information he may have in reference to the homicide.

Island was advised of his Miranda Rights and began a recorded interview with authorities from the Walker Police Department. During the recorded interview, Island admitted to killing his mother on Sunday, December 29, 2013. He stated that “he was lying in his bed and started to think of all the stuff his mother had done and he went downstairs with the gun and shot her twice.” He went on to say in the interview that he borrowed the shotgun a week prior to the homicide with the specific intent to kill his mother.

Island advised during the interview that after the killing, he took the victim’s vehicle for a ride to cool down, and then returned to the house to conduct normal house activities and go to sleep. The following morning he went into the victim’s bedroom to cover the body and recover any evidence left behind. He continued normal household and social activities until he was located by police in the early hours of January 2, 2013.

Island was arrested and charged with second degree murder then transported to the Livingston Parish Detention Center for booking.

Trial for Island was scheduled to begin October 16, 2017, when he entered in his plea. Edward Island III was sentenced to life with the department of corrections.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Belser represented the state; Judge Douglas Hughes handed down the sentence.