Denise Amy Law (Baton Rogue Police Department)
A 37-year-old woman in Louisiana was arrested this week for allegedly killing a 66-year-old woman, beating the victim to death with a walker because the older woman was allegedly trying to steal her boyfriend.
Denise Amy Law was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the beating death of Melinda Reed, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Baton Rouge Police Department, detectives responded on Thursday to a call about a female being the victim of a physical assault in the 3500 block of Riverway Drive. First responders found Reed suffering from multiple injuries to her head and face.
She was taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Law was arrested for Reed’s murder that day and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, where she is being held without bond, jail records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
An affidavit of probable cause obtained by Baton Rogue daily newspaper The Advocate provided additional details regarding the alleged altercation between the two women.
According to the report, Law and Reed got into an argument sometime before 2:40 p.m. on Thursday in the home on Riverway Drive. Witnesses reportedly told police that the dispute stemmed from Law accusing Reed of pursuing a relationship with Law’s boyfriend.
The duo continued to quarrel, moving outside the home and onto the driveway, where the argument escalated into a fight. During the fight, Law is accused of grabbing a metallic walker — one designed to assist adults in getting around — and using it to pummel Reed multiple times, particularly in the head.
At least one witness reportedly told police the blows from the walker caused Reed to fall to the ground, but that did not stop Law from continuing to strike her with the walker, authorities said. The beating reportedly continued until several bystanders were able to pull Law away from Reed.
In addition to the beating, The Advocate reported Law also took Reed’s cellphone and threw it into a storm drain. Firefighters recovered the phone.
Authorities said that their investigation remains ongoing and urged anyone with information relevant to Reed’s death to contact BRPD’s Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867.
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