UPDATE 4/22/15 3:43PM

Funeral services for Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott are set for Monday, said 1st Assistant District Attorney Dale Cox during a press conference held this afternoon.

Services are set for Monday at Broadmoor Baptist Church and will include visitation from 10AM to 12:30PM, followed by the funeral and then a private burial for family only.

Cox said that he's requested to Chief Judge Bobby Waddell that court be discontinued on Monday, April 27, in observance of Scott's funeral. However, Cox assured the public that there will be no lull in services rendered as they undergo the transition of office. "There will be no discontinuance of anything. If anything, there will be a lot more trials because I plan to try a lot of cases."

In accordance with Louisiana law, Cox will serve as acting district attorney until the governor schedules a new election.

"At this time, we don't know when that will be. There's already gubernatorial elections set for November, so I anticipate the governor will add the Caddo DA office to the ballot so that there will be no need for a special election or the cost of a special election to taxpayers," Cox said.

Cox remarked on his 38-year friendship with Scott and talked about his legacy to the community.

"Being a city judge is not easy. Being a district judge is even harder and being a district attorney is even harder yet because in every decision you make, you make somebody angry and in many ways you make many people angry," Cox said.

"But (Scott) never let personal bitterness or rancor enter into his decisions. He really liked people and serving the public. He loved his staff and his staff thought so well of him. So that would be his legacy - a truly warm individual in positions of responsibility not always conducive to warmth."

UPDATE 4/22/15 10:47AM

Officials have confirmed with 710 KEEL that Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott has died.

LSU Police Captain Cory Lalonde told Louisiana Radio Network that Scott was found unresponsive in a hotel on the university's campus at around 8:15AM today.

"Upon our officers' arrival and EMS' arrival, it was determined that the individual was deceased, and he was identified as Mr. Scott," Lalonde said. "There's no suspicious circumstances whatsoever. We do believe at this point that it was natural causes."

Condolences have poured in from area officials as the news spread of Scott's death:

Shreveport Mayor Ollie Tyler said she was saddened by the news, noting that she and Scott's family have a long history together. "His wife and I worked many years together in the Caddo Public School System. He's been a great public servant, a great leader in this community," she said. "He will be sorely missed. We want to send our condolences out to the family today and just let them know that our prayers and thoughts will be there for them and with them."

Caddo Parish Superintendent Lamar Goree also shared his condolences. "It's so sad. All our prayers go out to his lovely family during this difficult time," he said.

Caddo Parish School Board Member Dottie Bell reflected on her close friendship with the family. "I was very close to Charles Scott and (his wife) Alexis. They have been with me since I was teaching at (Turner Elementary/Middle School)

The news especially hit hard for Caddo Parish School Board Member Dottie Bell. "I am just shocked. I just don't believe it," Bell said as she recalled her longtime friendship with Scott and his wife Alexis. "They have been with me since I was teaching at (Turner Elementary/Middle School... He was a good man and a good DA and she was a good teacher for Caddo Parish."

Original story:
Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott has been found dead in Baton Rouge, according to several local news sources.

The East Baton Rouge Coroner's office has confirmed Scott was found dead in a hotel room, according to KSLA.com:

Officials have not confirmed an identity or released the apparent cause or circumstances surrounding the death.

The East Baton Rouge Coroner's Office has now confirmed that the man found in a Baton Rouge hotel room is Charles Scott, and that his body is being brought back to Caddo Parish for an autopsy.

Check back here for updates as this story develops.

Contributors to this story include Erin McCarty, Angela Thomas and Donecia Pea.

 

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