Mother sets fire to teenage daughter she accuses of being sexually abused by her own boyfriend: police

Latonya Ann Harris, 40, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and domestic violence child endangerment for crimes against her own daughter, an unnamed 15-year-old girl.

Her boyfriend, Terrence Washington, is also charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, obstruction of justice, molestation of a juvenile, three counts of indecent behavior toward a juvenile and five counts of second-degree rape.

On April 21st says the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office They “learned of a 15-year-old victim who was severely burned and shot multiple times but was still clinging to life” after a car accident in Baytown, Texas, around 11 p.m. the night before.

Washington allegedly drove “recklessly” and crashed on a residential road before emergency responders found him at the scene “with a firearm in his hand.” He was taken into custody while several other occupants – including the victim, another child and Harris – were found in the vehicle.

“Due to the apparent severity of the victim’s injuries, he was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,” the release said, where medical staff then “discovered, along with the discovery, the gruesome extent of the burns on the victim’s torso.” Gunshot wounds to the victim’s chest and face.

TPSO added, “A Baytown Police Department investigator described the victim’s injuries as the worst she had seen in her entire career.”

Washington allegedly told officers he was the one who shot the victim during an argument with the girl’s mother at her Louisiana home. He also allegedly “admitted to being responsible for the victim’s sexual abuse, which continued for several months prior to the victim’s injuries.” In a follow-up interview, the sheriff’s office said Washington “fired one shot with his gun and shot the victim in the face” on April 19 and that Harris was responsible for the burns on the teen’s body in February.

“Washington stated that the victim was burned after Harris learned of the sexual abuse with the victim, whom she blamed for the encounters,” authorities said. “Washington confirmed that the victim’s injuries were treated at home by Harris, who refused to seek medical treatment for the victim.”

The minor child in the car was also interviewed and said that “during Carnival season” she woke up to the sight of the victim’s burning body as Latonya Harris stood over her bed with a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a lighter.” In the same interview, “they heard each other “SVU investigators also provided gruesome details about how the victim was shot inside the home on two separate days, which went unaddressed as the family traveled to Texas.”

During a search of the family’s home, “investigators discovered evidence confirming that a gun had been fired in the home, and in addition to the traces of blood, the strong odor of infection and rotting flesh could be smelled.”

While Washington has reportedly spoken to authorities, TPSO says Harris has “refused” to speak to investigators.

“This is the type of case where it is not only difficult to deal with the circumstances, but it is also difficult to imagine the level of violence and evil that can occur at the hands of one human being,” said Sheriff Tim Soignet in a statement. “I cannot express how grateful I am to have these extremely violent offenders in custody and off the streets.”

“Our detectives have worked tirelessly since learning of the incident in the hope of protecting an innocent young lady from further torture and ill-treatment,” he added.

Harris remains jailed at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex on a $1 million bond. Washington, meanwhile, will be returned to the custody of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office at a later date as he remains behind bars in Texas “on felony-related charges” in the state.

The investigations are still ongoing.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call or go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available around the clock in more than 170 languages.