Two Men Arrested for Caddo Parish Murder from 26 Years Ago

Two men are behind bars for a 26-year-old homicide that happened in south Caddo Parish.

According to a Caddo Sheriff's Office news release, Claudell Staten's body was discovered by a passing motorist on Ellerbe Road, north of Robson Road, on March 20, 1988. The 44-year-old man had been shot several times during a struggle inside his moving car, then left outside on the ground after the vehicle crashed.

Years later, while investigating the cold-case homicide of Harold Bruce Cotton, Sheriff's Detective Terry Richardson received information about the Staten murder and the possibility that the two killings were related. He began reviewing all available 1988 files and reports, and over many years had located and re-interviewed witnesses from that time. He also identified and interviewed several new witnesses in the Caddo Parish area and across the country.

The information pointed to the involvement of Staten's brother-in-law, 56-year-old Will "Roy" Robinson, and Robinson's 60-year-old cousin, Jake. The investigation continued over three years, and a warrant was obtained this past week, charging both men as principals to second-degree murder.

Will Robinson was arrested as he visited his brother, Christopher Martin Robinson, at Caddo Correctional Center. Christopher is in jail on unrelated charges. Jake Robinson was already at CCC for Cotton's 2004 murder.

Detective Richardson says according to the 1988 Staten homicide report, a male/female couple took a taxi ride in Shreveport and shared information about the murder with the cab driver. This couple and anyone with information is urged to contact Richardson at 675-2170 or Crime Stoppers at 673-7373.