Louisiana Woman Arrested for False Kidnapping Report

A 24-year-old woman from Louisiana has been taken into custody after allegedly fabricating a story about her son being kidnapped last week.

Artasia Viges contacted law enforcement around 1 a.m. on November 5, claiming her young son was taken while she was changing a flat tire near U.S. 190 and Industrial Road in Eunice, as per the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.

She described how, while she was parked, “people in an older model truck” abducted her son.

Upon investigation, deputies discovered the child alone in the parking lot of Heinen Medical Clinic, where he had “abrasion injuries to his knees,” the sheriff’s office reported.

The boy, whose age was not disclosed, informed authorities that his mother “ran him over” and abandoned him on the road.

He was then taken to a hospital for treatment.

In light of the conflicting accounts from the mother and the child, juvenile detectives were summoned to further probe the situation.

The investigation revealed that when Viges stopped the car, her son exited before it had fully stopped, leading to his knee injuries.

“A follow-up interview with Artasia Viges uncovered the sad reality; there was no kidnapping, and the child was left unsupervised on a busy road and permitted to escape during the night,” authorities stated. “What began as a disagreement between mother and child escalated into an unusual response to a tantrum.”

The sheriff’s office highlighted that Viges’ son was “clearly not safely restrained” and jumped from the vehicle before it halted, which caused his injuries.

“The mother opted to leave the child outside the car, allowing him to wander away in the darkness on major roads,” officials added. “She conceded to detectives that she did not try to pursue him and eventually lost sight of him.”

Artasia Viges faces charges including cruelty to juveniles, child abandonment, and making false statements to endanger public safety.

She is currently held in the St. Landry Parish Jail with a bond set at $200,000.