BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A 37-year-old Lousiana woman has been arrested and also charged with first-degree murder after allegedly beating a 66-year-old woman to death with a walker. The motive for the attack was reportedly that the older woman was pursuing the suspect’s boyfriend.
Denise Amy Law was taken into custody on Thursday following the fatal assault on Melinda Reed. Officers responded to a call about an assault and found Reed suffering from severe head and facial injuries. Despite being rushed to the nearest hospital, she succumbed to her injuries.
Law is currently being held without bond at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. According to an affidavit of probable cause, the witnesses stated that the altercation began inside a residence before escalating into a fight on the driveway. It was during this altercation that Law allegedly used a metallic walker to repeatedly strike Reed, particularly targeting her head.
Bystanders were eventually able to intervene and pull Law away from Reed. Additionally, it was reported that Law took Reed’s cellphone and disposed of it in a storm drain, which was subsequently recovered by firefighters.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident and have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.