EUNICE, La. — The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a kidnapping of a young child at the area of US 190 and Industrial Road in Eunice on November 5 around 1 a.m.
The mother, Artasia Viges, 24, of Eunice, reported that individuals in an older model truck had kidnapped her son as she was parked on the roadway attending to a deflated tire.
Almost immediately upon arriving on scene, deputies learned that the unattended child was found by citizens on the parking lot of Heinen Medical Clinic with abrasion injuries to his knees. The child stated to officers that his mother “ran him over” and left him on the side of the road.
The child was transported to the nearby hospital for treatment.
With this vast disparity in statements, the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives were called in to investigate.
A subsequent interview with Artasia Viges revealed the awful truth; there was no kidnapping and a young child was left unattended along a major roadway and allowed to run off in the night.
What started as a disagreement between a mother and a child became a bizarre reaction to the child having a tantrum.
As the mother pulled the car over, the child, obviously not properly restrained, bailed out of the car before it came to a stop, resulting in the injuries to the child’s knees.
The mother chose to leave the child out of the car, allowing him to run off in the dark, along major roadways.
The mother admitted to detectives that she did not attempt to go after him and ultimately lost sight of him.
These grievous actions led to the arrest of Artasia Viges on charges of cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, and false swearing for purpose of violating public health or safety. Her bond is set at $200,000.
Anyone with additional information about this crime is encouraged to call the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office at 337-948-6516.
