15-year-old female juvenile charged in Francis death
Wed, 2013-11-06 11:38
Harlan Kirgan
Bayou Vista, La.
A 15-year-old juvenile female was arrested Tuesday evening for second degree murder in connection with the death of Willie Francis, 23, of Bayou Vista, whose body was found Oct. 30 in Berwick about 12 hours after his vehicle was found with the engine running in Bayou Vista, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
Detectives arrested the juvenile at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday for her involvement in Francis’ death determined by a joint investigation by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Berwick Police Department.
Detectives developed the juvenile as a person of interest and through further investigation, identified the juvenile as a suspect in the homicide. The investigation is ongoing, Hebert said.
Around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 29, a sheriff’s deputy patrolling the Bayou Vista area located Francis’ vehicle on U.S. 90 with the engine running. Concerned for Francis’ welfare because of the circumstances under which the vehicle was found, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s detectives launched an investigation into Francis’ whereabouts, the sheriff said. At about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 30, Berwick police received a phone call regarding the discovery of a body along La. 182 in Berwick, Hebert said.
The St. Mary Parish coroner identified the deceased as Francis. Evidence gathered at the location is being analyzed at the Acadiana Crime Lab. Anyone with information regarding this case may contact the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-384-1622 or 337-828-1960 or Berwick Police Department at 985-384-7710.
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