OPELOUSAS, La. — A heartbreaking and horrifying case has shaken the Louisiana community of Opelousas after a 2-month-old infant was found dead in what authorities are calling one of the most disturbing cases of child abuse they have ever encountered.
According to the Opelousas Police Department, officers were called to a residence on the 100 block of Nicole Lane earlier this week after receiving a report of an unresponsive infant. Upon arrival, first responders discovered the lifeless body of a baby girl showing visible signs of trauma and severe physical abuse.
Investigators said the child’s injuries were extensive — including evidence of blunt force trauma, fractures, and, most shockingly, a severed spine. Paramedics pronounced the infant dead at the scene. The St. Landry Parish Coroner’s Office later confirmed that the cause of death was consistent with violent physical abuse, and the manner of death has been ruled a homicide.
Police quickly launched a full-scale investigation, interviewing witnesses and reviewing forensic evidence collected from the home. As a result, the infant’s parents — identified as 23-year-old James Davis and 21-year-old Alana Broussard — were taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, and obstruction of justice.
Authorities say both suspects provided conflicting accounts of what happened to their daughter, but medical evidence revealed that the child had suffered ongoing abuse in the weeks leading up to her death. The autopsy report detailed older bruises and healing fractures, suggesting a pattern of violence.
“This is a case that has shaken every investigator who has worked on it,” Opelousas Police Chief Martin McLendon said during a press briefing. “No child should ever have to endure the kind of suffering that this infant experienced. We are committed to pursuing justice for her with every resource available.”
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services confirmed that there were no prior records of abuse or neglect reported at the family’s address, though officials said that information is still being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.
Neighbors told reporters that the couple had recently moved into the neighborhood and mostly kept to themselves. Some expressed disbelief, while others recalled hearing arguments and disturbances from the home in recent weeks.
The accused parents are currently being held at the St. Landry Parish Jail without bond. Prosecutors say they intend to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law, noting that under Louisiana statute, first-degree murder in the death of a child under 12 can carry the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
A small memorial of flowers, stuffed animals, and candles has been placed outside the home where the infant was found, as community members struggle to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy.
“This is something that cuts deep into the heart of this community,” Chief McLendon said. “We can’t bring this baby back, but we can make sure those responsible are held accountable.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to process evidence and await additional forensic results.
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