Sheriff: Pregnant Oakdale woman was killed in 2011 for baby
OAKDALE, La. (AP) - Officials say they believe a pregnant Oakdale woman was killed in 2011 by another woman who planned to take the baby and raise it as her own.
Allen Parish Sheriff Doug Hebert told KPLC-TV (http://bit.ly/1yZrdW6) Saturday that he believes human remains found Thursday at a house in Oakdale belong to Victoria Marie Perez. She was last seen leaving Rapides Regional Medical Center in Alexandria on March 10, 2011, while the 22-year-old was eight months pregnant.
Hebert said Perez was killed by 32-year-old Pamela Causey-Fregia as part of an effort to rekindle relations with her estranged husband. He said Causey-Fregia was trying to persuade the man that she was pregnant, showing him a pregnancy test and sonogram, and intended to raise Perez's child. Not convinced, the estranged husband left and went back to Texas.
Causey-Fregia was arrested earlier this week on charges of accessory after the fact to the crime of aggravated battery and obstruction of justice. The charges against her have now been upgraded to first-degree murder and first-degree feticide.
Hebert said Causey-Fregia picked up Perez in Alexandria and offered her baby clothes to get her to return to Oakdale. An Oakdale native, Perez then lived in Lecompte.
The sheriff said information in the case was provided by Causey-Fregia's own three children, aged 10, 8 and 6. Hebert said all three were at the family home when authorities believe Causey-Fregia killed Perez there by blunt-force trauma.
The sheriff said one child was with the mother when she picked up Perez in Alexandria, and another was with her when she disposed of the body. The children have been placed in state custody.
What Hebert believes to be Perez's remains were found at house in Oakdale owned by a relative of Causey-Fregia. Officials believe Causey-Fregia moved Perez's body to the house and burned it after killing her. A tip led authorities to the house.
Authorities have determined the remains are human and are testing DNA to confirm they are those of Perez.
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Information from: KPLC-TV, http://kplctv.com