commentary by Patrick H. Moore
Opinions differ as to the validity of vigilante efforts in criminal matters and — for the most part — it’s probably a good thing that non-law-enforcement personnel are typically not in a position to mete out justice. Last June, however, in a rural area of Lafayette Parish, La., it was the family of kidnap victim Bethany Arceneaux, 29, of Duson, La, that rescued her from her abductor, Scott Thomas, in an abandoned house on the edge of a sugar cane field after law enforcement had searched for her fruitlessly for nearly two days. This is yet another true crime story in which the facts could easily be poured into a captivating crime novel.
Alexis Shaw of World News writes:
The family of a kidnapped Louisiana mother tracked down and killed the father of her child in the abandoned house where he was allegedly holding her prisoner, authorities said.
Bethany Arceneaux, 29, of Duson, La., was abducted in the parking lot of a daycare where she was picking up her 2-year-old at approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Department Captain Kip Judice told ABCNews.com.
Witnesses saw the suspect, Scott Thomas, allegedly force Arceneaux into his white Buick LeSabre, before driving off…
Although they were not married, according to Captain Judice, Thomas, 29, of Leonville, La., was the father of Bethany Arceneaux’s child. As a result of relationship problems, Bethany filed a police complaint on June 15, claiming Thomas locked her in a house and threatened to kill both her and her son. A protective order against Thomas was issued June 17 and Thomas was arrested on Aug. 8th, and later released, for violating the order.
At the time of the abduction, Bethany’s child was left behind in her car at the daycare center. Bethany’s mother arrived later and was allowed to take the child home with her. Meanwhile, the search for Thomas and Bethany kicked into high gear. Later that evening, law enforcement officials found Thomas’ car near an abandoned sugarcane field in a rural area of Lafayette Parish, La.
One of Bethany’s shoes was found in the Buick LeSabre; the other had been left in the parking lot of the daycare center.
After locating Thomas’ vehicle, the authorities searched the sugarcane field Wednesday night and all day Thursday, but to no avail. The sugar cane towers two feet above a typical man’s head and it was brutally hard for the rescue team to fight their way through the dense cane.
It wasn’t until Friday morning that a break came resulting from a determined search mounted by Bethany’s own family members. They came upon a secluded, abandoned house behind a cluster of trees directly across the street from the field where Thomas had abandoned his car. According to Captain Judice, only the home’s roof was visible from the road:
“[The family] converged on a piece of property about a mile from where the car was found. One of the family members heard what he thought was a scream.”
Arceneaux’s cousin (it is unclear whether he was the family member who heard the scream) then approached the home, kicked in the door in and entered. There was Thomas holding the beleaguered, and considerably the worse-for-wear, Bethany captive. At the sight of her cousin, Thomas began stabbing Arceneaux, and a confrontation ensued.
“The cousin, who was armed, began firing several shots at Thomas,” Judice said. “After a couple of shots, [Arceneaux] was able to get free of him and they escorted her out of the house.”
Meanwhile, officers who heard the gun shots fired surrounded the home. Upon entering, they found Thomas, who had sustained several gunshot wounds, lying lifeless on the ground.
Arcenaux, who had suffered multiple stab wounds, was transported by ambulance to Lafayette General Medical Center, where she is in stable condition.
Oddly, Captain Judice — in what would appear to be pre-autopsy protocol — stated that Thomas’ cause of death is not known. The captain also stated that Thomas did not own the abandoned home.
Bethany, who was extremely weak and had not eaten or drunk anything since her abduction on Wednesday, told investigators that the home was the only place she remembers being held hostage.
Unsuprisingly, no charges have been filed against the cousin who shot Thomas, and according to Captain Judice, it is unlikely that the man will be charged:
“In the state of Louisiana, you have a right to protect yourself and others from imminent bodily harm. We believe at this point, based on evidence and statements collected, that this guy was acting in defense of Ms. Arceneaux and thus, was within the state law.”
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Carol Kuruvilla of the New York Daily News writes:
The family has been praised for their actions, but the case has also raised questions about why the police were second on the scene. Bethany’s cousin, Dawnetta Roy, found it “upsetting” that her family had to find the missing woman themselves.
But Cpl. Paul Mouton, a Lafayette Police Department spokesman, said that police were on the hunt as well. He claimed it was coincidence that the family found Bethany first.
“While we were looking on one side, they were looking in another and they came upon her. It just so happens where they were looking was where she was found,” Mouton said. “If we weren’t looking at all and they were searching, that would be different.”
“I’m so happy. God is good,” Monica Arceneaux-Henry, Bethany’s aunt, said. “We followed our faith and believed she was alive. God answers prayers.”
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Although I’m not generally an advocate of vigilante justice, which all too often can deteriorate into mob violence, in this case it seems that it was both effective and necessary. Although some readers will no doubt feel that he had it coming, we’ll never know for certain, however, whether the shooting of Thomas was actually necessary.