A Louisiana couple was arrested in connection with last month’s attack that left the woman’s teen daughter with life-threatening injuries. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Timothy Soignet said the 15-year-old girl was found gravely injured in a vehicle that was driving recklessly and crashed on an I-10 East service road in Baytown, Texas. Police who responded to the April 20 incident detained the driver and his girlfriend, Terrence Washington and Latonya Harris, 41 and 40, in addition to a 10-year-old child, according to WVUE.
The teen girl reportedly suffered burns to her upper body and gunshot wounds to her chest and face. Washington admitted to sexually assaulting and shooting Harris’ daughter in the span of several months, WDSU reported
The 10-year-old child allegedly told authorities that she woke up during Mardi Gras to find Harris burning the victim with rubbing alcohol and a lighter. Washington reportedly told police that Harris burned the girl after learning about the sexual abuse.
According to WDSU, Washington told police they went to Texas after the shooting, while the 10-year-old mentioned that the victim never got treatment for her injuries.
Washington claimed Harris burned her daughter because she blamed her for the sexual assaults. Harris — who was released from the hospital on May 9 — reportedly refused to speak to Terrebonne Parish police.
According to WVUE, Washington claimed he accidentally shot the victim in the face during an argument with Harris. Detectives who searched the family’s home reportedly recovered various evidence of a shooting — including blood and “the strong odor of infection and decomposing flesh.”
Harris is charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, domestic abuse battery, and child endangerment. She remains jailed on a $1 million bond.
Washington is charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, obstruction of justice, molestation of a juvenile, three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, and second-degree rape. He remains jailed in Texas as he awaits extradition to Louisiana.