A couple from Thibodaux, La. has been arrested in connection with an investigation into the abuse, torture, and attempted murder of a 15-year-old girl. Police received a call about a vehicle driving impulsively on I-10 just before crashing on a service road. Upon arrival responding officers found the girl’s body badly burned, shot multiple times, and “clinging to life,” after a vehicle crashed in Baytown, Texas on April 20th at about 11 p.m.
Latonya Harris, 40, and her boyfriend, 41-year-old Terrance Washington, who was driving the car, were taken into custody. The victim was taken to the hospital and another 10-year-old child was taken into custody and released to go back to Louisiana with a family member. The burns on the victim’s upper body were described as “gruesome.” The investigator describing her injuries, which included gunshot wounds to the chest and face as the ” worst she has seen in her entire career.” The girl suffered third and fourth degree burns to 30% of her body.
During an interview, Washington allegedly admitted to shooting the victim during an argument at their home in Louisiana claiming he was holding a gun in his hand and it went off, hitting the victim in the face. The couple, 10 year old child and the victim left for Texas and ultimately ended up crashing their vehicle. He claims he burned the girl back in February of 2024, in which they were treating at home. A search warrant was issued for the family’s home in which detectives reportedly found evidence of a shootong, blood, and decomposing flesh.
Harris was booked for attempted first-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile, and domestic abuse battery child endangerment. She is being held on a $1 million bond. Washington was booked for two counts of 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 five counts of second-degree rape. Washington remains in the Harris County Detention Center on charges connected to crime in Texas. He will later be remanded to the custody of Terrebonne Parish authorities.
