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Police release identity of woman killed

Posted at 2:50 PM, Nov 29, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-29 16:03:27-05

KAREN JOHNSON HARRISON
KAREN JOHNSON HARRISON

Police have released the name of the 25-year-old disabled woman killed from severe neglect, according to police.

Cyra Shantell Marie Harrison, of Elizabeth, suffered from cerebral palsy and was found dead on Friday.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the White Oaks Funeral Home of Oakdale.

Three people were arrested on Tuesday with the worst case of neglect that deputies had ever seen, according to Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton.

On Friday, November 23, 2018, at 9:45 am, patrol deputies responded to a residence in the Plainview Community in Rapides Parish in reference to what was reported as a natural death. According to the complainant, the 25-year-old woman, who was a special needs patient, was found dead that morning. Upon arrival, the deputy began his investigation and due to the deceased being a special needs patient and the deplorable living conditions the woman was found in, determined the incident needed further investigation. A patrol supervisor also responded as well as detectives and crime scene unit to continue the investigation.

From the deplorable living conditions the victim was found in and the physical state of the body, detectives believed the death was a result of severe intentional neglect. From their investigation since Friday, detectives were able to establish sufficient probable cause and secured arrest warrants for three suspects; Marilyn Sue Maricle, 52, Glen E. Maricle, 55 and the victim’s mother, Karen Harrison Johnson, 47, all residing in the 200 block of Leon Odom Road, Elizabeth, LA. Detectives obtained warrants based on the evidence at the scene and results of an autopsy conducted on Tuesday for two counts obstruction of justice, criminal conspiracy, cruelty to the Infirmed and second-degree murder.

GLEN E MARICLE
GLEN E MARICLE

On November 27, 2018, detectives with the assistance of United States Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force located all three suspects at their residence and they were taken into custody without incident. All three suspects were transported and booked into the Rapides Parish Jail where they remain at the time of this release being held on a $1,170,000 bond.

Detectives say their investigation is still ongoing.

“Our detectives briefed me on what they had found and in all their years of law enforcement experience, they had never witnessed a scene of neglect as bad as this one,” said Sheriff William Earl Hilton. “This is so sad on so many levels. I want to commend our deputies and detectives for the diligence they have put into this very difficult investigation. As one of our supervisors said, we are the voice of those victims who can no longer speak for themselves.”

 

MARILYN SUE MARICLE
MARILYN SUE MARICLE