BRIDGE CITY, La. — Stacie Toups became a public fighter for her husband after he was shot and carjacked by a Bridge City escapee in July.
Scott Toups was in the ICU for months and it was unclear if he would survive his injuries. He remembers dropping off Mardi Gras beads to a donation box Uptown on July 17 when a teenager came up to him and asked for his keys. He doesn't remember much following that. Kendall Myles, 17, was caught and is being tried as an adult. Myles shot Toups, according to the NOPD, after he escaped from the Bridge City Center for Youth.
Scott's wife, Stacie then appeared in several WWL-TV stories as she served as Scott's advocate and voice.
"Be the advocate for your loved one. Stay with the doctors, talk to the doctors, make them talk to you, follow them around if you have to," she told us in October.
Scott made a miraculous recovery and was released from the ICU last month.
This week, he found his beloved wife, Stacie in their home unresponsive. He said the coroner told him she died of natural causes.
"She was a great woman. I just wish I could have returned the favor," he said Wednesday. "She's a fighter. She never gave up."
Scott wants his wife to remembered as that: a fighter.
"She was by my side the whole time. They almost pulled the plug on me and my wife fought against it," he said.
New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams released a statement regarding Toups' death:
"Stacie Toups was a force of nature. I had the honor of meeting her at her family's most difficult time. I am very saddened to hear of her passing. This year has delivered two horrible blows to this family. I will be praying for her and Mr. Toups's two sons, in addition to making good on my promise to her to hold the people accountable who senselessly and recklessly brought so much harm and pain to their family."
Before Stacie's unexpected death, she was working on a raffle to help pay for Scott's medical bills. Scott said that raffle will still go on, although he's unsure who will lead the effort now.
The raffle winner will win a seven night stay in Orange Beach in May. You can purchase tickets for $25 here: https://justiceforscottraffle.com/
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