A press conference was held on September 3 in the city courtroom by Mayor Nick Cox and Minden Police Chief Jared McIver to release details regarding the recent double murder of Joe Cornelius and his daughter, Keisha Miles.
At approximately 6:30 AM on September 1, officers responded to a scene at 111 Austin Street, where they discovered two individuals deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. The victims were identified as 82-year-old Joe Cornelius, a former Minden mayor, city councilman, and Ward Marshal, and his daughter, 31-year-old Keisha Miles.
An 11-year-old relative of the victims is currently in custody. “This is a somber day for our community as we face this tragedy that has deeply affected us all,” said Mayor Cox. “Our hearts and prayers are with the Cornelius family and their friends during this unimaginable time.”
Two weapons, believed to be the murder weapons, were recovered on the property and are undergoing forensic testing. The juvenile suspect, who was present at the scene when officers arrived, initially provided a conflicting account but later confessed to the crimes after being interviewed with a guardian present. A motive has not yet been established, and the case remains under investigation.
The juvenile is being held at Ware Youth Center on two counts of first-degree murder with a bond set at $500,000—$250,000 for each count. The prosecuting attorney’s office is reviewing the case, and it is currently unknown if the juvenile will be charged as an adult.
Chief McIver acknowledged the community’s grief, stating, “The city is mourning. Everyone knew Mr. Joe. He always had a joke to tell and was always smiling. He was just a great-natured man.” McIver also commended his investigators for having a suspect in custody within six hours of the crime being reported, saying, “They did an outstanding job.”
A GoFundMe account has been established to help cover the funeral costs of Keisha Miles at: https://gofund.me/160d65de.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Minden Police Department.
