A Texas man has been indicted in the murder of a mother of three who lived at his home with her children, authorities said.
A Polk County jury returned indictments against Cody Allen Laviolette, charging him with first-degree murder and third-degree tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in connection with Kelly Taylor Mariah Little, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced in a Tuesday, November 3, news release.
An investigation into Little’s “suspicious” death, which stemmed from an incident at Laviolette’s home on May 23, has resulted in Laviolette, 36, facing 16 felony charges including child sex abuse and bestiality, the agency said.
Laviolette is accused of killing Little, 31, who died at a hospital the morning after deputies were called to a report of a woman having a seizure at Laviolette’s home, CBS affiliate KHOU-TV reported. Little was flown to a hospital after deputies responded.
She was surrounded by family and friends when she died, according to her obituary, which describes her as a “beautiful woman, inside and out.
“She was a very generous person. She didn’t always have much to give, but she always shared what she had to help others,” the obituary continues.
During the investigation into Little’s death, “multiple witnesses came forward with evidence collected has led investigators to examine the activities of Cody Allen Laviolette,” the sheriff’s said in a July 10 news release, when the agency announced Laviolette’s arrest on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful restraint.
His mother was also arrested and charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, according to the agency.
“As the investigation has progressed, several women have come forward to report their interactions with Cody Laviolette,” the sheriff’s office said.
At the time, investigators said other individuals with possible information on Laviolette were potentially “reluctant to come forward because they believe, based on statements allegedly made by Cody, that he is protected by his and his family’s influence in the Onalaska area,” located in western Polk County.
As of September, Laviolette had been facing more offenses, including aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault of a child, unlawful restraint, assault of a family member, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and bestiality, People reported.
Laviolette is accused of sexually assaulting multiple children. One of the children had lived with him, according to authorities.
Laviolette hasn’t entered a plea as of Wednesday, November 4, per People.
Information on his legal representation wasn’t immediately available.
As Laviolette faces more than a dozen felony charges, his combined bonds total $5,400,000, according to the sheriff’s office.
“He remains in the Polk County Jail pending the posting of bond or the determination of his cases,” the agency said.
Detectives suspect Laviolette has more victims due to the evidence collected during the investigation.
“Investigators are encouraging anyone who may have information related to this case or who believes they may have been a victim to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office,” the agency said.
