BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested for manslaughter more than two years after his wife was found dead in a Baton Rouge home. 

Bridget Boutwell's body was found inside a home on North Lark Street on May 12, 2024. She was badly decomposed, and police could only identify her by her fingerprints. 

Baton Rouge Police arrested her husband, Joseph Solar, in the case on Wednesday. 

The family said that Boutwell's daughter had tried to call her mom for Mother's Day, but couldn't get in touch with her. Solar, who is deaf and uses sign language, reportedly called Boutwell's daughter two weeks later to say that she had died. 

WBRZ spoke with Danielle Boutwell, Bridget's sister, who said Wednesday's news was unexpected and she felt a mix of relief and hesitation. 

Danielle Boutwell said that after her sister's death, there was very little information or updates about the case. 

Solar was arrested in October of 2025 on a separate warrant, accusing him of shooting at a car in March of the prior year. 

Danielle Boutwell said that detectives told the family then that Solar would be charged in the killing, but he was allowed to bond out. 

While on bond, Solar reportedly contacted the family multiple times, including requesting some of Bridget Boutwell's remains. Danielle Boutwell said she had to file restraining orders against him for her family.

Solar was booked for manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and failure to report the commission of certain felonies.