An Arnaudville woman is being accused of stealing flowers and other items from a cemetery in Cecilia.
Friday morning, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s deputies received a call about a woman stealing flowers from St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery.
After an investigation was launched, deputies identified the woman as 42-year-old Rhonda Lagrange.
Deputies in St. Martin and St. Landry parishes obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s home and recovered silk flowers, flower arrangements, religious statues, vases, and other religious memorabilia, according to a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s spokeswoman.
Lagrange was arrested Saturday on one count of simple burglary after a warrant was issued for her arrest. She will be booked in to the St. Martin Parish Jail.
The sheriff’s office spokeswoman says two previous reports of thefts from the cemetery, dating back to December, were currently being investigated; however, several other thefts went unreported. Since Friday, several other victims have come forward and reported thefts of flowers and other items from the cemetery that have occurred over the last three months, the spokeswoman says.
Anyone who wishes to report a theft from the cemetery or who may have information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office at (337) 394-3071. If you do have information on this crime and wish to remain anonymous, you may also contact St. Martin Crime Stoppers at (337) 441-3030 or via private message through the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
This investigation remains ongoing, and further charges are pending.
