Louisiana

A Dead 3-Year-Old Was Brought to a Louisiana Hospital. Now, 3 People Face Charges of Abuse

Published

1 year ago

March 9, 2025

A Dead 3-Year-Old Was Brought to a Louisiana Hospital. Now, 3 People Face Charges of Abuse

Three people have been charged in Louisiana after allegedly bringing a 3-year-old child to the hospital dead, according to authorities.

The Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office shared in a social media post on Wednesday, March 5, that Kewanna Monique Lard, 44, Dewanequa Monique Nykeria Lard, 23, and Szysznyk DeWayne Phillips, 48, were charged with cruelty to juveniles.

Kewanna and Dewanequa were also charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles and obstruction of justice.

According to the sheriff’s office, investigators responded to Bienville Medical Center on Feb. 13 after being informed about Bienville Parish residents “who arrived at the emergency room with the deceased child.” An autopsy was conducted on the 3-year-old as officers investigated what led to the child’s death.

“Following an autopsy, investigators began to look further into suspected physical abuse of the deceased child as well as a [14-year-old child] who resided in the same household,” police said in a statement.

Police vehicle with lights (stock image).

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Police said that Kewanna, Dewanequa and Phillips lived together with the 14-year-old child and 3-year-old child — both of whom were not identified — in a home in Lucky, La., according to the release.

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The sheriff’s office said investigators were able to obtain “sufficient evidence” in order to arrest the trio and charge them. They were booked into the Bienville Parish Jail, with bond set at $100,000 on each count, police said.

Police said that their “investigation is ongoing” and “additional charges are pending” in the case.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office for more information on the case.

Local outlet KTBS-TV identified the deceased 3-year-old as Rayshawn “Nico” Lard. According to an online obituary, the child was born in Castor, La., on Oct. 9, 2021.

He was described as a child who “loved PAW Patrol,” as well as “his mom, siblings and cookies.” His funeral was held by his family on Feb. 28.

Sheriff John Ballance told KTBS-TV that at this point in their investigation, none of the three people arrested so far have been charged with homicide.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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Louisiana

Louisiana-based study: Bariatric surgery holds promise for young patients

Published

12 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana-based study: Bariatric surgery holds promise for young patients

A new study from researchers at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, and the Metamor Institute found that metabolic and bariatric surgery can be delivered safely and effectively for adolescents and young adults living with severe obesity, leading to significant weight loss and improvements in obesity-related health conditions.

Published in Obesity Surgery, the study examined outcomes from 76 patients ages 10 to 25 who underwent bariatric surgery through a Louisiana-based program at the Metamor Institute between January 2020 and March 2025. Researchers evaluated safety outcomes as well as longer-term health improvements associated with surgical obesity treatment.

The study found that patients achieved an average total body weight loss of 29%-32% maintained over one to five years. Among patients with available follow-up data, 94% experienced remission of type 2 diabetes, 67% showed improvement in hypertension and dyslipidemia and 64% experienced improvement in gastroesophageal reflux disease. Surgical complications remained low, with only 5% of patients experiencing complications within 30 days of surgery.

Researchers noted that these outcomes were likely supported by a comprehensive, multidisciplinary care model that included experienced surgeons, nutritional guidance, behavioral support and coordinated medical follow-up. The study population represented a broad cross-section of Louisiana patients, with nearly 75% covered by Medicaid, highlighting the importance of ensuring access to effective obesity treatment options across socioeconomic backgrounds.

The findings support current American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations that adolescents age 13 and older with severe obesity and related health risks be evaluated for metabolic and bariatric surgery as part of comprehensive, evidence-based obesity care.

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Louisiana

Meta’s Louisiana Data Center to Surpass $250 Billion Price Tag

Published

24 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Press Room

Meta’s Louisiana Data Center to Surpass 0 Billion Price Tag

Meta Platforms Inc. has committed to spending an additional $40 billion on its sprawling data center campus in Louisiana, pushing its total expected investment beyond $250 billion for the site as it continues to grow its artificial intelligence computing footprint.

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Louisiana

DeRidder man found dead in Sabine River

Published

1 day ago

July 12, 2026

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NEWTON COUNTY, Texas. (KPLC) – A DeRidder man reported missing was found dead in the Sabine River Sunday morning, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.

Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard said Jordan Jamal Allen was located around 7:50 a.m. on July 12 with help from Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and 409 Search and Rescue.

Authorities say the body was recovered not far from where Allen went under Friday night near the U.S. 190 bridge east of Bon Wier at the Texas-Louisiana state line.

The sheriff said that Allen and a woman were said to be wading across the river Friday when the current began pulling the woman.

The sheriff said Allen tried to help her, but went under around 8:45 p.m. and wasn’t seen again. He said the woman made it back to land safely.

We will have more in this story as it develops.

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