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According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Eddie Langlinais, on February 5th, 2025, at approximately 6:45pm, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office (VPSO) Patrol Division, received a call in reference to a possible kidnapping that occurred on Maple Street, south of Abbeville.
Upon arrival, deputies spoke with the complainants who said that they had been awarded custody of their juvenile granddaughter, and that the juvenile’s parents had arrived at their residence and were attempting to take the child against court orders.
They stated that the accused subjects had caused damage to their garage door, made several threats, and entered their residence uninvited. The complainants stated that the accused subjects departed the residence with the juvenile in a white Honda Pilot.
Through investigation and with the use of Crime Center cameras, the suspect vehicle was seen entering Iberia Parish after the crimes had been committed. VPSO deputies contacted the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office (IPSO) and the New Iberia Police Department (NIPD) and advised them of the situation. IPSO deputies and NIPD officers located and stopped the suspect vehicle inside the city of New Iberia, near the intersection of LA-14 and Avery Island Road.
Both accused subjects, Blake Christopher LeMaire (W/M; DOB: 02-20-1985) and Jacqueline Touchet LeMaire (W/F; DOB: 10-04-1982) were both taken into custody without incident. The juvenile was returned to the grandparents’ custody a short time later.
Due to the arrest of the LeMaires occurring in Iberia Parish, both suspects were booked into the Iberia Parish Correctional Center, before being transferred to the custody of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The LeMaires were subsequently booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center on the following charges:
• Blake LeMaire - Interfering with the Custody of a Child, Simple Assault, Home Invasion, and Simple Criminal Damage to Property
• Jacqueline LeMaire - Interfering with the Custody of a Child, Simple Assault, and Home Invasion
Sheriff Langlinais would like to commend the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division for their quick response and thorough investigation, which led to the safe and rapid return of the juvenile without harm and the apprehension of both suspects without incident.
Additionally, Sheriff Langlinais would like to thank Sheriff Tommy Romero and the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, as well as Chief of Police Todd D’Albor and the New Iberia Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

  The No. 7 Vermilion Catholic Eagles completed the first round of District 6-1A play Tuesday with a 59-52 victory over the Westminster Christian Academy-Lafayette Chargers at Kim Guidry Gym.
 The Eagles (9-3, 4-0) have won their last six games and are in the driver’s seat in the district race.  They have a two-game lead with four to go.  Head coach John Thompson likes the spot his team is in.
 “We have three of our four remaining district games at home,” Thompson said.  “We start the second round Friday at home against Highland Baptist. Then we play Ascension Episcopal and Gueydan at home before we finish at WCA-Lafayette.  That’s going to be a tough one.”
On Tuesday against WCA, the Eagles jumped out to a 15-13 lead after one.  Jyrin Bessard scored eight of his game-high 20 points in the opening frame, including two three-pointers.
“He has a different motor,” Thompson said of his senior guard.  “When he’s on, he’s go, go, go.  I love it.  We must keep him out of foul trouble and let him play his game.”
VC began the second quarter on an 11-2 run to build a 24-15 lead with 6:21 to go in the half.  They expanded it to 20 at 39-19 before the Chargers closed the half on a 7-0 run to make it 39-26 at the break.
 The Eagles expanded the lead back to 19 early in the third before WCA made a run.  The Chargers cut the lead to 50-35 at the 2:18 mark before ending the frame down 52-41.
  Points were at a premium in the fourth, with the Eagles still up double digits, 55-45, with five minutes to go in the game.  WCA got as close as 57-52 with two minutes left before Bessard scored his final two points from the charity stripe to provide the final margin.
 Thompson thought his team showed what they were made of by weathering the storm down the stretch. 
 “It’s grit,” Thompson said.  “We’ve had close games this year.  We’ve given up runs. We’ve given up some leads.  These guys don’t blink.”
Dom Gautreaux joined Bessard in double figures with 13 points.  Jonathan Dartez had eight, while Will Simon scored seven.  Tre Hebert dropped six points, while Joe Langlinais added five.

VC  girls win big
            In the early game, the No. 13 Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles dominated the Westminster Christian Academy-Lafayette Lady Chargers 68-25.
 VC (16-3, 6-0) raced out to a 27-6 lead after one as junior Ali Broussard scored 15 of her game-high 26 points in the opening frame.  They expanded the lead to 40-15 by halftime.  
 The Lady Eagles outscored WCA-Lafayette 28-10 in the second half to provide the final margin. 
Ten different players scored in the game for VC.  Broussard led the way with 26, while Brynn Broussard, Zoei Thibodeaux, and Keiya Green all scored nine points.  Anna Boudreaux and Jenna-Beth Hagle each added four points, while Jolie Broussard, Audrey Boudreaux, and Evelyn Vincent scored two points, and Bree Thomassee scored one.
Both teams hosted Highland Baptist on Friday.  They also host Ascension Episcopal on Tuesday before welcoming parish-rival Erath on Wednesday.

Maxwell Hayden Edward Mayeaux, age 70, passed away Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, in Annapolis, MD, following a long illness. A graveside service will be held on Friday, February 14th, at 2 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist cemetery in Lafayette, LA. (914 St. John St., Lafayette LA 70501)
Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Lutomske Mayeaux; his brother, Luke Andrew Mayeaux (Esther); his sister, Katie Mayeaux Jones (Kent); and his nieces, Trisha Kristin Mayeaux, Zoe Christine Lutomske, and Gia Marie Lutomske.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Hayden E. Mayeaux and Norma Crane Mayeaux; his brothers, John Barton Mayeaux and Paul English Mayeaux; and his sister, Tracey Elizabeth Mayeaux.
A retired Aquaculture Program Specialist from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Max graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Marine Biology and both a B.S. and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (Aquaculture) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and a doctoral minor in Biochemistry from Louisiana State University.
Max was a tender-hearted soul who was unfailingly loving, funny, and brilliant. Though he lived with Rebecca in Bowie, MD, his heart was always in Louisiana. Max was a dedicated outdoorsman. Whenever asked what he loved to do or would rather be doing, he always responded, “fishing,” but his fondest memories involved duck hunting at the camp with his father, brothers, and many friends.
Second, only to his love of the out-of-doors was his love of music. Max leaves behind nine guitars, five amplifiers (and about a dozen pedals and boxes I could not identify on a bet).
Still, above all, he leaves us with the memory of a kind and loving heart, a keen intellect, and a laugh that I can still hear when I close my eyes. Rest well, my love.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lafayette Area Resources Center (LARC, Inc.) in Max’s memory and, indeed, in special remembrance of Tracey Elizabeth Mayeaux, our personal angel.
LARC, Inc. is a local nonprofit organization based in Lafayette, LA, providing services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Donations may be made online in their memory at https://lafayettelarc.org/donate/ , or you may mail the donation to their offices at:
LARC, INC.
303 New Hope Road,
Lafayette, LA 70506

Mason Hebert has always dreamed of playing football on the collegiate level. On Feb. 5, National Signing Day, his dream came true.
On Wednesday, Hebert signed a letter of intent to play for the Louisiana  Christian University Wildcats in Pineville, La. Enrollment is just under 900 students. Hebert has started for the Erath Bobcats for four years, where he played running back and linebacker.
He is one of two Vermilion Parish athletes to sign a letter of intent on Feb. 5. VC’s Jonathan Dartez signed with Nicholls State in Thibodaux.
On Wednesday, Hebert took photos with family, friends, coaches and the Erath football team.
“The process has been long and tiring,” said Hebert. “Playing at the next level is something I have wanted to do since I was a kid. I am very excited to continue my dream of playing college football at the next level.”
Louisiana Christian University (LCU), a Baptist college, signed a handful of players from the Acadiana area. The school is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in the Sooner Athletic Conference, which is Division III of the NCAA. 
They play in Wildcat Field, which can hold 7,000 spectators.
Last year’s team went 4-7 overall. The Wildcats will play teams from Florida, Texas, and Arkansas.
Last week, Mason and his father, Waylon, visited LCU and were impressed with the school’s academics and athletic facilities. One major benefit of signing with the school is that it is less than two hours from Erath.
“I am big on family. Knowing my family can drive to each home game means a lot. I looked into schools in Arkansas and drove and visited one. That was a long drive.”
Hebert played four years at Erath, with his senior year being both his best and the Bobcats’ best year. The team finished the regular season with an impressive record of 8-1 and advanced to the Class 3A playoffs. Hebert was voted the district’s MVP. Throughout the season, he recorded 71 solo tackles, 42 assisted tackles, two sacks, five quarterback hurries, and one interception.
He rushed for more than 550 yards as a running back this year. 
EHS head football coach Eric LeBlanc, a successful walk-on football player at McNeese State, said Hebert has put in the time and effort to earn a scholarship to LCU.
“To see a kid’s effort that he put in four years and having the opportunity to continue to play football is awesome,” said LeBlanc. “Mason is a great kid, and you look at what he has been able to do in four years; it is amazing.  He loves football and can continue to play it. That is something we want to see as a coach.”
Hebert, a 4.0 student, plans to major in biology to work in medicine. When college begins, Hebert has already accumulated 17 college credit hours at Erath High School.