UPDATE: November 5, 2020
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives have arrested the grandmother of a child abused in the Goldonna community in north Natchitoches Parish according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
This evening at approximately 9:30pm, NPSO Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Teresa Jurgens, 51, of Goldonna on a criminal arrest warrant signed by a Tenth Judicial District Court Judge for Felony- Principle to Cruelty to Juveniles in connection with her involvement in a child abuse investigation involving her grandchild in Goldonna, La.
The investigation began on Friday October 30, 2020 which resulted in the child being removed from the home by State DCFS case workers on Monday November 2.
Two other people identified as Joe Hines, (the grandmother’s boyfriend) and the child’s mother, 28-year-old Casey Smedley of Goldonna remain incarcerated in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Cruelty to Juveniles.
No bond has been set.
On Monday, Sheriff Stuart Wright stated that NPSO detectives were committed to conducting an impartial investigation not based on hearsay or rumors, only following the facts and evidence in the case to be presented to the district attorney’s office.
Due to the sensitivity of this investigation, no further information will be released at this time according to Chief Deputy Greg Dunn.
If you have any information contact Major Reginald Turner or Detective Derrick Sowell with the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 318-357-7830.
The Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center in Shreveport, Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office and Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services are all assisting in the investigation.
UPDATE: November 3, 2020
Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives have arrested the mother of the child involved in the child abuse investigation in Goldonna according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
On Monday afternoon at approximately 2:35pm, State DCFS case workers removed the juvenile from the home.
The child is now in a safe environment.
Shortly after the child’s removal, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives executed a search warrant signed by a Tenth Judicial District Court Judge at the home to search for any additional evidence or clues in the investigation.
At the conclusion of the search warrant, detectives interviewed the mother of the juvenile identified as 28-year-old Casey Smedley at the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau.
While interviewing Smedley, she admitted to detectives that she participated by recording the incident and forwarding the videos to another unnamed person without stopping the abuse.
Additional details will be released during criminal proceedings.
As a result of this findings and other evidence deputies arrested Casey Smedley, 28, transported and booked her into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Felony-Cruelty to Juvenile.
Smedley as well as Joe Hines remains incarcerated in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center without bond at this time.
Detectives say the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are possible.
Our detectives are committed to conducting an impartial investigation, that will follow the facts and evidence in this case to be presented to the District Attorney, not based on hearsay or rumors according to Sheriff Wright.”
Original Story from November 2, 2020
On Friday, October 30, two Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Investigators requested a Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputy accompany them while they investigated a hotline complaint in reference to a juvenile at a home in Goldonna, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
Following the home visit, State DCFS advised the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office that, based on their investigation, there was no evidence of abuse and DCFS decided not to remove the child at that time.
Since that decision, the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office opened a criminal investigation into the matter, working throughout the weekend to obtain additional video evidence, witness statements, suspect statements, and interviewing the minor child.
As a result of the NPSO investigation, on November 1, 2020, NPSO CID obtained a warrant from the 10th Judicial Court for the arrest of Joe Hines for one felony count of cruelty to a juvenile.
He is currently incarcerated at the NPDC with no bond.
At approximately 2:35 p.m., Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies confirm that State DCFS caseworkers have removed the juvenile from the home in Goldonna according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
Detectives from the NPSO are in the process of executing a search warrant signed by a Tenth Judicial District Court Judge at the home to search for any additional clues or evidence in the investigation.