Teen girl booked in Berwick murder

A 15-year-old girl is charged with second-degree murder of Willie Francis, 23, of Bayou Vista, whose body was found Oct. 30 in Berwick about 12 hours after his vehicle was found with the engine running in Bayou Vista, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
Detectives arrested the juvenile Tuesday night for her involvement in Francis’ death determined by a joint investigation by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Berwick Police Department.
The investigation is ongoing, Hebert said. He did not reveal any alleged motive or circumstances regarding the charges.
Around 11:30 p.m. Oct. 29, a sheriff’s deputy patrolling the Bayou Vista area located Francis’ vehicle on U.S. 90 with the engine running. Concerned for Francis’ welfare because of the circumstances under which the vehicle was found, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s detectives launched an investigation into Francis’ whereabouts, the sheriff said. At about 10:30 a.m. Oct. 30, Berwick police received a phone call regarding the discovery of a body along La. 182 in Berwick, Hebert said.