Louisiana Grandmother Accused Of Murdering Infant Grandson, Critically Injuring Another: Police

A Louisiana grandmother is accused of murdering her young grandson and critically injuring another by depriving them of food and water for possibly over a week, authorities said.

On May 8, Mother’s Day, Rachel Hebert dropped off her two boys, 10-month-old Hudson, and Tyler Jr., 2, at the Broussard home of their grandmother, Tammy Clause, 49, KLFY reported.

When Clause failed to text or call Hebert for eight days, the mother made the two-hour drive to their grandmother’s residence to check on her children.

Hebert told KLFY that Clause refused to open the door for her and police had to break it down.

Officers then found Hebert’s infant dead and his older brother clinging to life after suffering severe malnutrition and dehydration.

“I thought she really loved those children. I really thought,” Hebert told the station.

Hours later, officer took Clause into custody and charged her with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

She was being held on a $300,000 bond at the Lafayette Parish jail.

“It breaks my heart now that he’s crying in a hospital bed, and he should be at home,” Hebert said of her surviving son, who is expected to live. “The fact that I have to bury my little infant breaks my heart even more. I just thought to myself, ‘How could their grandmother do this?’ What caused her to do something like this? What made her snap?”

Police have not revealed a possible motive for the murder and neglect.

“I truly believe that this was flat out murder,” Hebert said.

Citing court records, The Advocate reported the suspect allegedly suffered mental health issues after serving in the Iraq War.