Terrebonne Parish sheriff gets emotional discussing teen found burned, shot in Texas crash

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

THIBODAUX, La. ( WGNO ) — The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office has released more details involving a man and a woman who were arrested in connection with an attempted murder investigation involving a 15-year-old girl.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet let his emotions show, describing the horrifying moment the 15-year-old girl was found clinging to life in the back of the crashed car.

“For somebody to do that to their child, I can’t even put it to words or understand,” said Soignet.

Soignet says 40-year-old Latonya Harris, 41-year-old Terrence Washington, the unnamed victim and a child were on their way to Texas. He says if it wasn’t for a reckless driving report along Interstate 10, the victim may have never been found alive.

One investigator called the scene the “worst she has seen in her career.”

“Found to be suffering from large-scale burns to majority of her upper body and multiple gunshot wounds,” said Soignet.

Soignet added that Washington allegedly admitted to sexually abusing the victim, shooting her twice and being aware that Harris had allegedly set her on fire.

“I’d say they’re pure evil. They might have some mental issues going on. They know the difference between right and wrong,” said Soignet.

Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joseph Waitz says a conviction would bring the victim some closure, but true justice is unattainable.

“We will put them away, but whether or not that will be true justice? Is there true closure here? I don’t think there can be, because of the magnitude of this case,” said Waitz.

They vow to support the recovering teen every step of the way.

“We are making sure she has emotional support, our detectives we’re there. If she needs us, we are there, if she is any of us, we are going to be there every step of the way,” said Soignet.

Harris was arrested in Terrebonne Parish after she was released from a hospital after the crash.

Washington is still being held in Texas but will be extradited to Terrebonne Parish. An arraignment has been set for June 24.

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