Latonya Ann Harris, left, and Terrence Washington, right, are accused of shooting and burning her 15-year-old daughter at their Louisiana home and seeking medical treatment. (Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office)
A mom and her boyfriend are behind bars after they allegedly set her 15-year-old daughter on fire and then shot her twice in two days before driving about 300 miles from Louisiana to Texas with the girl injured in the back seat.
Latonya Ann Harris, 40, and Terrence Washington, 41, are charged with attempted first-degree murder and cruelty to a child. Washington also is charged with indecent behavior with a child, molestation and second-degree rape, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office said.
Law enforcement began investigating around 11 p.m. April 20 when Harris, Washington, the 15-year-old and another child were in a car crash. Cops received complaints that the vehicle was recklessly driving eastbound on Interstate 10 before crashing on a service road. When police responded to the crash they found Washington holding a gun and the 15-year-old “badly burned, shot multiple times but still clinging to life,” a press release said. The Baytown Police Department alerted the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office that serious crimes were committed by Washington and Harris in their jurisdiction about 300 miles away, the press release stated.
When the victim arrived at the hospital, doctors noticed gunshot wounds to the girl’s face and chest and burns to her upper body, cops said.
“An investigator with the Baytown Police Department described the injuries to the victim as the worst she has seen in her entire career,” police wrote.
Washington in an interview with cops allegedly admitted to shooting the victim during an argument with Harris at their home in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He also reportedly admitted to sexually abusing the girl for several months. He said the girl was burned in February and her mother was handling her care instead of taking her to a doctor, the press release said.
Detectives also interviewed the other child who was in the vehicle with Harris and Washington during the crash. The girl told investigators that she awoke during the Mardi Gras season to see Harris standing over the 15-year-old girl’s bed holding rubbing alcohol and a lighter, according to cops. Harris then allegedly lit the girl on fire. The 15-year-old also was shot on two different days before driving to Texas, the press release stated.
Cops obtained a warrant to search the family’s home.
“During the search, detectives discovered evidence to confirm that a weapon was shot inside the home, and in addition to blood evidence, the strong odor of infection and decomposing flesh could be smelled,” deputies said.
In a second interview with investigators, Washington again reportedly admitted to shooting the victim, and said his girlfriend set the girl ablaze. He also allegedly said Harris set the victim on fire because blamed the victim for Washington’s sexual abuse. Cops arrested Harris on May 9 and took her to the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex where she remains on a $1 million bond.
Washington remains in a Texas jail awaiting extradition back to Terrebonne Parish.
“This is the type of case that is not only difficult to deal with the circumstances, but hard to imagine the level of violence and evil that can occur at the hands of a human being,” Sheriff Tim Soignet said in a statement. “I can’t begin to express how grateful I am to have these extremely violent offenders in custody, and off of our streets.”
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