Two Arrested After Double Murder and Arson

UPDATE 7/14 9 AM EST The two defendants appeared via video stream in a Mathews County courtroom Tuesday morning with Lacey in tears as the judge sets the next court date for Oct 28, 2025 and appointed them both lawyers.

Lacey told police after the arrest that Ashford and Cormier had gotten into an argument which escalated when Cormier shot the man multiple times the evening of July 10. Lacey says Hudgins walked into the room the shooting took place in and was also shot multiple times by Cormier.

Cormier's mother Darby Kelley states "I didn’t raise my son to be this type of person"

Pictured below is Carol Cormier and his mother Tina Darby Kelley

When Darby learned her son had a firearm she told him “‘You’re not God. You’re not the life taker'”

“I told him he needed to go to get some help, and he said,  I don’t need no help, but I should have had him signed up for that.”

Darby Kelley says she believes her son was bisexual and may have had a relationship with the now deceased Chad Ashford.

Police say Cormier eventually  confessed to the crimes stating he had  “lost his temper following an argument and panicked.”

Cormier also claimed Horsley is the one that came up with the idea to “burn the house down to dispose of evidence.”

Just last month, Police Ping published a blog on another recent high school graduate turned to major crime all in the same week and same city the two were found in. Lacey Horsley has also recently graduated and had a bright future until she met Carol Cormier.

Reports indicate the Flock Camera System is a huge reason the two were located so quickly. As soon as the duo crossed into the city, that was the end of their crime spree. 

CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES SOON!

UPDATE 7/14 5 AM EST Lacey Horsley's Facebook page was taken down over night. We have added a screenshot of the page along with several photos in the gallery above..

Officers found a man and women dead in a burning home Friday night in Mathews Virginia and say Carol Cormier returned to the home the day after the murders to set the house on fire to potentially destroy any evidence.

Carol Cormier and Lacey Horsley are both being held at the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center in Saluda, Virginia. According to his Facebook Page, Cormier is previoulsy from Lafayette, Louisiana. 

The subjects were tracked using the Flock Camera System which has locations in dozens of carefully selected spots throughout the city. Once they passed into Newport News, police were able to quickly determine the pair's general area of travel and eventually locate them.

Carol Paul Cormier Jr

Facbook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.cormier.682454

Possible previous locations for Carroll Paul Cormier include Cardinal VA,  Mascot, VA, Gloucester VA, Maurice LA, Abbeville LA

Possible Nicknames include: Carroll Paul Cormier, Carroll K Cormier

• DOB: 01-28-1992
• Weight: 175lbs
• Weight: 5 09

Carol Paul Cormier Jr Charges:

• 2 Counts Non Capital 2nd Degree Murder
• 2 Counts Firearm used in Comission of Felony (first offence)
• Possess FIrearm by a Conviced Felon
• Arson of a Occupied Dwelling Place or Chruch

Lacey Ann Horsley

 Facebook (TAKEN OFFLINE 7/14/25): https://www.facebook.com/lacey.horsley.7

• DOB: 05-09-2007
• Weight: 200bs
• Weight: 5 04

Lacey Ann Horsley Charges:

• 2 counts of Accessory after the Fact Homicide
• Aid or Produce Burning of Occupied Dwelling or Chruch

In the 2024/25 school year a student by the name of Lacey Horsley made the  A/B honor roll at Gloucester High School 

According to her Facebook profile, Lacey says she is a crew member at McDonalds and a customer service representative at Pizza Hut. 

The home the crime took place is located in the 17000 block of John Clayton Memorial Highway in Mathews Virginia. The victims were reported to be Chad Wayne Ashford (54) and Audrey Elaine Hudgins Mowrar (56)

One of the victims, Audrey Elaine Mowrar (pictured below) has several fraud related charges dating back to 2022.

This is a breaking story, check back soon for updates.