A Louisiana woman, 24, has been apprehended by authorities after allegedly leaving her young son on the roadside during the night and subsequently misleading law enforcement by claiming the child had been abducted. Artasia Q. Viges was arrested last week and faces charges of cruelty to a juvenile, child desertion, and false swearing with the intent to breach public health or safety, as per the official announcement.
The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to a call on November 5, 2024, concerning a potential kidnapping of a young child near U.S. 190 and Industrial Road in Eunice, Louisiana, approximately 80 miles east of Baton Rouge. Upon reaching the location, first responders interacted with Viges, who claimed that her son had been abducted by individuals in an older model truck while she was dealing with a flat tire on the roadside.
However, inconsistencies in Viges’ account soon surfaced, exposing her alleged misconduct. Deputies discovered that the child had been found by locals in the parking lot of Heinen Medical Clinic, with abrasions on his knees. The child informed officers that his mother had “run him over” and abandoned him on the side of the road. He was subsequently transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Due to the significant discrepancies between Viges’ account and her son’s, the sheriff’s office Juvenile Detectives Unit was brought in to continue the investigation. A follow-up interview with Viges revealed a disturbing reality: there had been no kidnapping, and the child had been left alone on a major roadway in the dark.
Authorities stated that Viges had pulled over to the side of the road during a disagreement with her son, who was not properly restrained and jumped out of the moving car, injuring his knee. Viges admitted to detectives that she did not attempt to retrieve her son and eventually lost sight of him.
Viges is currently detained in the St. Landry Parish Jail with a bond set at $200,000. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with pertinent information to contact the sheriff’s office.