Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Thibodaux man has been charged with manslaughter in the death of his father. Terry Martinez, 66, has been charged in connection with the death of Dennis Martinez, 95, also of Thibodaux.

On January 6, 2026, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating an incident that had occurred two days prior wherein Terry Martinez had allegedly struck Dennis Martinez at his home where they both resided. This caused Dennis Martinez to fall, resulting in a head injury. He was airlifted to University Medical Center in New Orleans for treatment.

Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Terry Martinez’s arrest for domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury and cruelty to the infirm. On January 14, 2026, Terry Martinez was taken into custody in Terrebonne Parish. He was later transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex where he was booked on the aforementioned charges.

On January 23, 2026, Dennis Martinez was released from the hospital and placed under hospice care at a nursing home in Thibodaux. He passed away two days later. An autopsy conducted by the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office ruled the manner of death as a homicide caused by a traumatic brain injury. Further investigation resulted in detectives obtaining an additional warrant for the charge of manslaughter.

Terry Martinez, who was still at the Correctional Complex, was additionally booked on the manslaughter charge. Bail is set at $400,000.