Shocking Louisiana Cold Case Arrest of Mother for Allegedly Killing Baby
A shocking Louisiana cold case arrest, as a woman has been arrested for the death of her 16-month-old baby back in 1970, according to a report from KPLC.
How Was The Death Investigated?
In 2022, the family of the child asked the Sulphur Police Department to open a case to determine how the child died, more than 55 years after the baby died.
They opened an investigation, and on March 27, officers from the Sulphur Police Department arrested 75-year-old Alice Bunch Idlett for the death of her son on January 20, 1970.
Bunch was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder.
What Is Known From 1970?
According to Sulpher Police Department records, when the 16-month-old baby, Earl D. Bunch III, died, it was determined that the child died from injuries sustained when he fell out of his crib.
Alice Bunch was on her own to care for Earl, as his father was overseas fighting in Vietnam. She did live, for a time, with her in-laws, then in a rented house next door to her in-laws.
At the time that the circumstances surrounding the child's death were being investigated, detectives said there was not enough evidence that something else might have happened, and the case was closed.
Baby's Body Exhumed
Officials with the Sulphur Police Department say they recently received more information about the case.
Once they received this evidence, the child's body was exhumed with help from Gulf Coast Forensic Solutions for further investigation to determine how the child did in fact die.
The little baby's body was sent to the FBI, which conducted a forensic autopsy. Upon conclusion of the autopsy, FBI officials ruled the child's death a homicide.
The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's Office presented the case to a grand jury who indicted Alice Bunch on the charge. After being booked into jail, the judge set the woman's bond at $950,000.
What Other Details Are Known About Alice?
According to officials, Alice Bunch wrote many letters to Earl Bunch while he was fighting in Vietnam. In those letters, the woman was very candid about her feelings for her little boy, and it was not a flattering portrayal.
The letters were part of a custody hearing over the child.
The following is what Alice Bunch wrote in one of her letters to her husband, Earl, about their little boy,
What is wrong with me darling. I should love my own son but I really don't think I do and if I did I would know it. I feel as if he would die tomorrow I wouldn't care. I can't help it. To me his the one who ruint my life.
Terrible allegations of child abuse were made by Earl against Alice during their divorce and custody proceedings. He claimed that there were multiple instances when Alice abused their daughter, Angela Michelle.
He says once Alice pulled out two patches of the child's hair about the size of a half dollar when she was upset. It was a story corroborated by a teacher at the little girl's school. Angela Michelle's teacher pointed out the two bald spots to the school's principal.
Earl submitted, as evidence, several letters written by Alice Bunch to her husband, writing about her lack of love for herself and her baby boy, Earl III. In a portion of a letter from November 4, 1969, Alice wrote the following,
I just got through whipping that little bastard. I hate him. That's the honest truth. I can't stand this life. God had to punish me by letting me have that little brat. I wish I would have died when he was born. I hate myself. Do you think I'll ever be happy? Now I know how those people feel that get rid of their kids. I believe I could do it. I'm serious.....
What Were The Child's Injuries When He Was Brought To The Hospital?
According to court records, during a custody hearing over who should get custody of their 8-year-old daughter, the injuries the 16-month-old boy sustained in 1970 were outlined to Earl Bunch from the emergency room doctor who examined the little boy when his mother brought him in.
Dr. J.M. Thorkelson told Earl Bunch that the little boy was comatose when brought in. He had multiple bruises all over his body, bite marks on his body, and a burn mark on the child's buttocks.
The child was brought to the emergency room on January 19 and died the next day. He died while they were doing cranial surgery on the boy due to skull fractures.
Mrs. Bunch maintained she did not hurt the little boy. Mr. Bunch questioned the authorities who believed he hurt himself by falling out of a crib at his grandmother's house in New Orleans. Mr. Bunch further stated in court records that he believed the story because he just could not believe that the woman he loved would do that to their little boy.
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