A mother’s worst nightmare became a reality when she was kidnapped by her child’s father from a daycare parking lot in Duson, Louisiana.
Bethany Arceneaux‘s two-year-old son witnessed the abduction, which took place in broad daylight. Thankfully, the toddler was unharmed during the kidnapping.
Arceneaux’s family received a tip that she was being held captive at an abandoned house not far from the daycare. Because law enforcement had not responded to the emergency situation yet, Arceneaux’s family decided to take justice into their own hands and go to the abandoned house to rescue the young mother.
Half a dozen family members arrived at the abandoned house and found Arceneaux inside, bloody but alive. Thomas was also inside, and he was ready to fight to keep the mother of his child captive for as long as possible. A firefight erupted between Arceneaux’s family members and Thomas. During the exchange of bullets, Thomas was fatally shot and killed.
The mother’s family was then able to tend to Arceneaux, who had been stabbed multiple times by Thomas during the abduction. After Thomas was killed, Arceneaux’s family rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she was treated for the stab wounds as well as other injuries she had sustained during the violent abduction. Thankfully, she was reported to be in stable condition and doing much better.
29-year-old Arceneaux had previously petitioned for a court order to keep Thomas away from her and her son. He had threatened her life on several occasions. The order was granted on June 17, but by August 8, Thomas had been arrested for violating the order. He was charged with aggravated assault and starting an aggravated fight with one of Louisiana’s best.
“He keeps threatening to kill us,” Arceneaux wrote in her complaint to police. “He put a knife to my neck countless times.” If it wasn’t for the young woman’s family, she could have been killed.
“I can just imagine how chaotic that confrontation was,” police spokesperson Capt. Kip Judice told KATC. “The person who acted in defense of Ms. Arceneaux is a relative, a close relative to her. So I can imagine his emotions were probably high, and everyone’s levels were very escalated.”
This terrifying event highlights the dangers of domestic violence and the importance of obtaining protective orders. Bethany Arceneaux did everything she could to protect herself and her child from Scott Thomas, but it wasn’t enough. It’s important to take all threats seriously and to take action to protect yourself and your loved ones.
The bravery and quick action of Arceneaux’s family likely saved her life. They put themselves in harm’s way to rescue her and succeeded. This is a testament to the power of love and the strength of family bonds.
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: AWM, CNN/Youtube
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