Suspect in Destrehan murder has been arrested

Bruce Bourgeois Jr., who is suspected of killing his girlfriend and severely injuring her mother, has been arrested in Independence, according to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne.

At 7:13 p.m. Thursday, an alert Independence resident spotted Bourgeois at a Dollar General store trying to buy clothing. The local Sheriff’s Office was called and Bourgeois was apprehended without incident.

On Wednesday morning, Bourgeois Jr. is accused of stabbing his girlfriend, Mia Waite, to death in a home the two shared. Bourgeois also appears to have lured Mia’s mother, Carmelina Waite, to the home by calling her and asking for a ride.

When Carmelina arrived, she was attacked and her throat was slashed, according to a family member.

Bourgeois allegedly fled in Carmelina’s vehicle.

Mia was discovered dead in her bathroom by St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputies at 9:07 a.m. Carmelina is currently in ICU.

Bourgeois is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery.

Bourgeois has a lengthy arrest record in St. Charles Parish.

In 1999, he pled guilty to second-degree battery and was sentenced to six months in jail. In 2004, he was arrested and charged with the unauthorized use of a vehicle and received probation.

Two years after that offense, Bourgeois was arrested for simple burglary, but the case was dropped at the request of the victim. In 2007, he was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery and again received probation.

In 2009, Bourgeois pled guilty to the theft of a firearm and received a 10-year jail sentence. However, his sentence was suspended and he was instead given five years of probation.

 

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