A Louisiana teenager was burned, shot and raped, sheriff says

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office held a news conference Thursday to discuss the arrests in a case described as the attempted murder and torture of a Thibodaux teenager. WARNING: The details in this story are graphic. Not suitable for young people. The sheriff issued a news release Wednesday announcing that Terrence Washington and LaTonya Harris were arrested in connection with the investigation. The sheriff said on April 21 that his office was contacted by the Baytown Texas Police Department about an accident in their area. According to the sheriff’s office, Baytown officers responded to a crash on I-10 East. The driver, identified as Washington, had a gun and was taken into custody. That’s when police found the 15-year-old girl suffering from severe burns and gunshot wounds to the chest and face, according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff said the couple, who were the girl’s mother and the mother’s boyfriend, intentionally burned and shot the teen. The Baytown Police Department confirmed that Harris, 40, of Thibodaux, and Washington, 41, of Thibodaux, along with a minor child, were taken into custody in connection with the accident and the discovery of the teen. The teenager was taken to a Houston hospital to be treated for her injuries. Harris was also taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the accident. When questioned, Washington admitted to Baytown officers that he shot the teen and sexually abused her over several months, the sheriff’s office news release said. Washington told police that the family traveled to Texas after the shooting. A 10-year-old girl who was with the family was questioned by officers. The sheriff said the child told them during the carnival that she woke up several times when her mother set the teen on fire with a bottle of alcohol and a lighter. The child told investigators that the teen was shot on two separate days and was left untreated while the family traveled to Texas. A search warrant was then executed at the family home. Investigators said they found evidence of a gun being fired in the home, blood and odors of rotting flesh. TPSO representatives traveled to Baytown to interview Washington, where he admitted the April 19 shooting occurred. He claimed the gun he was holding went off and shot the teenager in the face. The sheriff’s office said Washington reported that Harris burned the teen after learning about the sexual abuse. According to a sheriff’s news release, Washington told investigators that Harris blamed the girl for the sexual encounters. According to Washington, Harris treated the teen’s burns at home and did not seek medical attention. Harris was released from a hospital on May 9 and returned to Terrebonne Parish. She was brought in for questioning but refused to speak to investigators, the sheriff said. Harris was arrested and faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, child abuse and domestic violence. She remains at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex, where she is being held on $1 million bond. An arrest warrant has been issued for Washington, who remains imprisoned in Texas. He will be transported back to Louisiana and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, obstruction of justice, molestation of a juvenile, three counts of indecent conduct toward a juvenile, and five counts of second-degree rape. The 10-year-old was transported back to Louisiana by a family member. The press conference on the case begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday and more information is expected to be revealed.

THIBODAUX, La. —

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office held a news conference Thursday to discuss the arrests in a case described as the attempted murder and torture of a Thibodaux teenager.

WARNING: The details in this story are graphic. Not suitable for young people.

The sheriff issued a news release Wednesday announcing that Terrence Washington and LaTonya Harris were arrested in connection with the investigation.

The sheriff said on April 21 that his office was contacted by the Baytown Texas Police Department about an accident in their area.

According to the sheriff’s office, Baytown officers responded to a crash on I-10 East. The driver, identified as Washington, had a gun and was taken into custody.

That’s when police found the 15-year-old girl suffering from severe burns and gunshot wounds to the chest and face, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff said the couple, who were the girl’s mother and the mother’s boyfriend, intentionally burned and shot the teen.

The Baytown Police Department confirmed that Harris, 40, of Thibodaux, and Washington, 41, of Thibodaux, along with a minor child, were taken into custody in connection with the accident and the discovery of the teen.

The teenager was taken to a Houston hospital to be treated for her injuries. Harris was also taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the accident.

When questioned, Washington admitted to Baytown officers that he shot the teen and sexually abused her over several months, the sheriff’s office news release said.

Washington told police that the family traveled to Texas after the shooting.

A 10-year-old girl who was with the family was questioned by officers.

The sheriff said the child told them during the carnival that she woke up several times when her mother set the teen on fire with a bottle of alcohol and a lighter.

The child told investigators that the teen was shot on two separate days and was left untreated while the family traveled to Texas.

A search warrant was then executed at the family home. Investigators said they found evidence of a gun being fired in the home, blood and odors of rotting flesh.

TPSO representatives traveled to Baytown to interview Washington, where he admitted the April 19 shooting occurred.

He claimed the gun he was holding went off and shot the teenager in the face.

The sheriff’s office said Washington reported that Harris burned the teen after learning about the sexual abuse. According to a sheriff’s news release, Washington told investigators that Harris blamed the girl for the sexual encounters.

According to Washington, Harris treated the teen’s burns at home and did not seek medical attention.

Harris was released from a hospital on May 9 and returned to Terrebonne Parish.

She was brought in for questioning but refused to speak to investigators, the sheriff said.

Harris was arrested and faces charges of attempted second-degree murder, child abuse and domestic violence.

She remains at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex, where she is being held on $1 million bond.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Washington, who remains imprisoned in Texas.

He will be transported back to Louisiana and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, obstruction of justice, molestation of a juvenile, three counts of indecent conduct toward a juvenile, and five counts of second-degree rape.

The 10-year-old was transported back to Louisiana by a family member.

The press conference on the case begins at 1 p.m. on Thursday and more information is expected to be revealed.