Jordan Arceneaux

jarceneaux@gannett.com

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office deputides arrested a Palmetto man Tuesday for allegedly shooting and killing his wife.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said Sam Clark Jr., 51, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder of his wife, Kimberly Nicole Perkins Clark, 28, whose body was recovered in the spillway canal near Palmetto on March 21.

The coroner's office determined Perkins had died from two gunshot wounds to her head.

Guidroz said the investigation determined that Clark was the last individual to see Perkins alive. He said Clark and Perkins had a contentious and abusive relationship. During the interrogation, Clark confessed to investigators that he shot his wife on the spillway levee bridge where he dumped her body.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the St. Landry Parish Detectives for their hard work, long hours and dedication to duty during the course of this investigation,” Guidroz said.

Guidroz said Clark was transported to the St. Landry Parish Jail for booking. No bond has been set.