Rayne woman faces murder charge in fiance's child's death

An arrest was made Wednesday morning following an eight-month investigation into the death of a 3-year-old Lake Arthur toddler.
Brittany Marie Prejean, 24, of the 800 block of South Eastern Avenue, Rayne, was arrested without incident on a warrant for first-degree murder for the death of Keaghyn Parsons. At the time of Prejean’s arrest she was identified as the fiancé of Parsons’ father.
The announcement was made via a joint press release issued by Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon, Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff Ivy J. Woods, Acadia Parish Coroner Dr. Mark Dawson, Dr. Terry Welke with the Calcasieu Parish Coroner’s Office and 15th Judicial District Attorney Keith Stutes.
According to Melancon, on May 19, 2014, deputies with his office responded to a report of a child not breathing in the 2500 block of Riverside Road, Jennings, located in western Acadia Parish. The child was taken to Jennings American Legion Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The body was then transported to the Calcalsieu Parish Coroner’s Office where an autopsy revealed a perforation of the small intestine caused by blunt force to the abdomen. The death was ruled a homicide.
Through the investigation it was learned that the victim would frequently visit his father’s residence and would remain in the care of Prejean while his father was at work. It is believed that while visiting on May 19, 2014 he allegedly received injuries which led to his death.
Woods stated that over the next eight months, investigators from several agencies spent many hours conducting interviews and working with child abuse specialists and forensic pediatric pathologists. This led to investigators presenting the case to prosecutors with the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the eventual issuing of a warrant of arrest.
Prejean was placed in the Acadia Parish Jail with no bond as per Judge Kristian Earles.