A 45-year-old Eunice man is accused of burglarizing an elderly woman’s residence and stealing her life savings of $100,000, which he used to gamble at casinos, buy a sports car and drugs, according to St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
Chadrick Jude Lavergne, of the 500 block of La. 29, was arrested on Feb. 10 for burglary of inhabited dwelling.
Later arrested in connection with the incident is Tayler Brooke LeJeune, 25, of the 1600 block of North Greent Avenue, Basile.
LeJeune is charged with accessory after the fact to burglary of an inhabited dwelling. Her bail was set at $25,000.
The burglary occurred on Dec. 3 and after it was aired on Crime Stoppers on Feb. 8 tips were received, Guidroz stated.
Investigators learned Lavergne was familiar to the suspect and members of her family, he said.
The investigators monitored Lavergne’s travels and leisure habits “to finally gather enough evidence for the arrest,” Guidroz said.
Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Lavergne on Jan. 26.
“Lavergne returned to a casino in Lake Charles and was apprehended, then transported to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Jail for processing. Lavergne admitted to the burglary during the interrogation and further arrests are expected,” Guidroz said.
According to the investigation, LeJeune assisted Lavergne in moving the safe from a wooded area using her truck. The two then threw the safe in a bayou after opening it, Guidroz said.
Lavergne and LeJeune then drove to the Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder and rented a room in LeJeune’s name, he said. The two were gambling when Lavergne noticed that LeJeune disappeared, he said.
Lavergne then went to their room and noticed that LeJeune had stolen some of the stolen money, he said.
Investigators uncovered that LeJeune also bought car, drugs, and went on a shopping spree with some of the stolen money.
“Without the help of the tipsters in identifying Lavergne, and the hard and smart work of the detectives in this department, this case might have not been solved,” Guidroz said.
Lavergne’s bail is set at $120,000.