Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Detectives have arrested the grandmother of a child abused in the Goldonna community in north Natchitoches Parish according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

Wednesday evening at approximately 9:30 pm, NPSO Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Teresa Jurgens, 51, of Goldonna on a criminal arrest warrant signed by a Tenth Judicial District Court Judge for Felony- Principle to Cruelty to Juveniles in connection with her involvement in a child abuse investigation involving her grandchild in Goldonna, La.

The investigation began on Friday October 30, 2020 which resulted in the child being removed from the home by State DCFS case workers on Monday November 2.

Two other people identified as Joe Hines, (the grandmother’s boyfriend) and the child’s mother, 28-year-old Casey Smedley of Goldonna remain incarcerated in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Cruelty to Juveniles.  No bond has been set.

On Monday, Sheriff Stuart Wright stated that NPSO detectives were committed to conducting an impartial investigation not based on hearsay or rumors, only following the facts and evidence in the case to be presented to the district attorney’s office.

Due to the sensitivity of this investigation, no further information will be released at this time according to Chief Deputy Greg Dunn.

If you have any information contact Major Reginald Turner or Detective Derrick Sowell with the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 318-357-7830.

The Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center in Shreveport, Natchitoches Parish District Attorney’s Office and Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services are all assisting in the investigation.