Anthony Templet was just 5 years old when his father, Burt Templet, allegedly took him from the family’s home in Texas in 2008, his sister said.
A teenager accused of killing his father was allegedly abducted by his dad from the rest of his family when he was a little boy, according to his relatives.
Anthony Templet was just 5 years old when his father, Burt Templet, allegedly took him from the family’s home in Texas in 2008.
“After 11 years of waiting to hear if my brother was still alive, he is found,” Anthony’s sister Natasha told WAFB-TV.
The revelation came as Anthony was arrested earlier this month in his father’s killing.
Now 17, Anthony allegedly shot his father during a domestic dispute at their Louisiana home about 3:30 a.m. June 3.
Police said Anthony told them he was asleep in his room when his father drunkenly woke up about 3 a.m.
The pair began arguing about a phone call to a family member and Anthony went back to his room, but his father followed him, police said.
Burt Templet began acting aggressively toward his son and initiated a physical altercation, Anthony allegedly told police.
Anthony reportedly said he locked himself in his father’s room and grabbed two handguns, one of which was “insurance” should the other not be able to fire.
He allegedly opened the bedroom door, shot his father once and when his dad asked him to stop, he fired two more times, cops told WAFB-TV.
Anthony then called 911.
His father did not survive the shooting, and Anthony was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
But the teen’s sister claims he was only protecting himself after enduring years of cruelty.
“He has been secluded and abused all those years by his own father,” Natasha said. “My brave brother had to defend himself for the last time against that evil man.”
Natasha said her mother endured a decade of abuse at the hands of Anthony’s father before he allegedly took his son and left. She said and her mother searched for her brother, even posting missing flyers in the Baton Rouge area because they knew he had family there.
Neighbors told WAFB-TV Templet was secretive about his son, who they said they believed was home-schooled. He recently had begun working at a local plant nursery, they said.
He has reportedly been able to speak with his sister, as well as his mother, brother and grandmother over the phone. It is the first time he’s spoken to them in more than a decade.
“It was great,” Natasha said. “He’s really sweet.”
District Attorney Hillar Moore’s office has been in contact with several of Anthony’s relatives, he told WAFB-TV.
Authorities plan to “review whatever information anyone has before deciding what action to take,” Moore said. Anthony remains in custody of law enforcement, but no formal charges have been filed against him, officials said.
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