After guilty verdicts in murder trial, what's next for other cases involving Kayla Giles?
Kayla Giles was found guilty Jan. 29 in the 2018 shooting death of her husband, but that case isn't the only legal matter involving her.
She has related and unrelated criminal charges still pending, as well as multiple civil lawsuits — in federal and district courts — filed by her and against her.
So, what's next?
Giles had no visible reaction when she was found guilty of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in the Sept. 8, 2018, killing of estranged husband Thomas Coutee Jr., 30.
The verdict came on the afternoon of Giles' 35th birthday after four days of jury selection, five days of testimony and a morning of closing arguments.
Verdict delivered: Kayla Giles found guilty of 2nd-degree murder, obstruction of justice
Trial coverage: Friend testifies Kayla Giles told her she wanted to kill husband, asked to borrow gun
Jurors twice sent questions out to 9th Judicial District Court Judge Greg Beard, and a bailiff returned with word of a verdict just minutes after jurors finished with the second question.
The mandatory penalty in Louisiana for second-degree murder is life in prison without possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
She's scheduled to be sentenced on March 28. Coutee's family will have the chance to offer victim impact statements before Beard sentences her.
Theft and domestic abuse battery
Less than two weeks after Coutee's death, on Sept. 17, 2018, Giles again was arrested by the Alexandria Police Department on charges of felony theft between $5,000 and $25,000.
The charges stemmed from complaints Coutee made about the theft of $5,200 from his Red River Bank account and from an incident during another child swap in which Giles allegedly hit Coutee repeatedly.
While these incidents played a prominent role in the murder trial, it's not known if formal charges ever will be brought against her since she's already set to be sentenced to life in prison.
An email seeking clarification sent to the Louisiana Attorney General's Office wasn't immediately returned.
Pineville house fire
On Feb. 7, 2020, the house Giles once had shared with Coutee was destroyed in a fire that later was ruled an arson.
At the time, Giles was in Oklahoma on a court-approved visit to see her only son. But she also attempted to see her oldest daughter, who was a witness to the shooting, in a nearby town.
Fire coverage: Kayla Giles home 'intentionally set' on fre; complaint seeks protective order
Contempt of court: Unauthorized visit to daughter lands Kayla Giles in jail for 30 days
Giles was found in contempt of court for that and served 30 days in jail.
The Louisiana State Fire Marshal investigated the blaze, ruling that it was an arson. Investigators are still working on the case, a spokesperson said on Monday.
Federal lawsuit against insurer
Giles filed a federal lawsuit against the insurer of her homeowner's policy, USAA General Indemnity Co., for failing to pay after the fire. The company cited the arson investigation in its response to Giles' claim.
The lawsuit was put on hold until Giles' criminal case was resolved.
On Jan. 31, a status conference was held in which the stay in the case was extended through April 29, according to online court records.
The extension is to allow the fire marshal's report to be completed, Giles' criminal conviction to be verified and for any appeal of that conviction to be confirmed.
Lawsuit over self-defense policy
Giles filed another federal lawsuit against Delta Defense LLC and United Specialty Insurance Co. over the policy she purchased when she bought the Ruger LCP .380 pistol used to kill Coutee.
She called the insurer from the scene to start her claim, which was mentioned several times during her trial.
Giles had received an initial $50,000 through the policy for an attorney retainer, but the insurer halted action on anything else because of the criminal charges.
Lawsuits filed: Kayla Giles files lawsuit over halted payments on self-defense policy
The policy Giles bought insured her as a platinum member through the United States Concealed Carry Association, Inc., making her eligible to be paid up to $150,000 for criminal defense fees.
Both companies have sought to be dismissed from the lawsuit.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Dee Drell lifted the stay order in this case. He gave Giles 21 days to file any opposition to the companies' motions for summary judgment.
The companies will have another seven days after that to respond.
Wrongful death lawsuits
The guardian of Giles' and Coutee's daughter and Coutee's father, Thomas Coutee Sr., filed wrongful death civil lawsuits in the 9th Judicial District Court in 2019.
More: Father, guardian file wrongful death lawsuits against Kayla Giles
No action has been taken in either lawsuit.
Unemployment fraud case
Giles was arrested in October 2020, along with Forest Hill resident Teri Nichole Champagne, for allegedly stealing as much as $300,000 in unemployment benefits in Louisiana and other states.
Arrest by AG: State accuses Kayla Giles, Forest Hill woman of stealing $300K in benefits
She was arrested by the AG's office in East Baton Rouge Parish on charges of identity theft, government benefits fraud, criminal conspiracy and money laundering.
A spokesperson with the AG's office said that, in light of Giles' conviction in Coutee's death, "we are reviewing future prosecutorial action."
This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: After Kayla Giles was found guilty, what about other cases involving her?
