Norco woman’s brutal death shocks family

Mary Nancy Arico lived alone in this Norco home for more than 20 years.

Mary Nancy Mule Arico was a simple woman who didn’t care about wearing fancy clothes or jewelry and dedicated a majority of her time to making sure the plants around her home flourished, according to relative Perry Waguespack.

“She walked to the grocery store, walked home and watered her plants,” he said. “That was the existence of her life.”

The 78-year-old, who lived at 115 Mary Street, was stabbed and beaten to death in her home on Nov. 8 in this quaint, normally quiet Norco neighborhood. On Nov. 26, her body was found on the kitchen floor by parish deputies.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has made four arrests in Arico’s brutal death, and what’s shocking is the age of those arrested.

Two 16-year-old boys – identified as Daniel Deese and Braiden Sumrall in published reports – have been charged with first degree murder, while a 14-year-old female was charged with principle to first degree murder. Pauline Deese, 17, of 325 Giacomo St., was charged with accessory to first degree murder after authorities say she helped hide evidence after the crime.

All of those arrested live in Norco.

In a press conference on Monday, Sheriff Greg Champagne said that deputies were called out to Arico’s home after the victim’s sister, who lives in New York, had trouble reaching her on the phone. The sister then called a neighbor, who went to Arico’s home but did not get a response.

The neighbor called the police.

When deputies arrived at Arico’s home, they discovered that the back door was open. When they entered, they found Arico lying on the kitchen floor in a severely decomposed state.
Through an autopsy, it was determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head along with multiple stab wounds.

Deputies canvassed the Norco area over the weekend, and heard from several teens who said that the suspects had bragged about the crime. Champagne said that the teens didn’t believe the suspects at first because a body hadn’t been found.

Police made all four arrests Sunday night.

Champagne said that it appears the group had planned to rob Arico because the rear of her home backed up against a vacant lot that would provide cover.

Authorities say the two boys got into Arico’s home by saying they had to use the phone. The 14-year-old girl told authorities she waited outside.

In his press conference, Champagne said that one of the 16 year olds distracted Arico, while the other began robbing her.

Published reports said that it was Daniel Deese who picked up several kitchen knives after entering Arico’s home and attacked the woman.

The reports say that the girl told investigators that she heard screaming inside the house and that Sumrall ran outside once Deese started stabbing Arico. Deese eventually came outside covered in blood, and said that he had to hit Arico in the head with a microwave because she didn’t die after the stab wounds.

“They could have just robbed her…they didn’t have to kill her,” Waguespack, who lives in Destrehan, said. “If they would have told her what they wanted she would have just given it to them.”

Waguespack said that Arico was so guarded about intruders that he doesn’t believe she let the juveniles into her home.

“She wouldn’t let anyone in her house,” he said. “My brother cuts her grass and he is one of the only people she would have opened the door for. Sometimes he has to knock over and over again until she lets him in.”

Instead, Waguespack thinks that the teens were hiding in the trees behind Arico’s house and then rushed her when she went outside to water her plants.

Waguespack was also shocked that anyone would think about robbing Arico.

“She didn’t wear expensive clothes or jewelry…she was just a simple person,” he said. “The house was 100 years old…she had nothing of value in that house.”

Authorities have said that only minor items were missing from the home. Published reports said the boys needed cash to help the girl runaway.

Champagne says that the murder went undiscovered for so long because Arico lives alone and rarely socializes with neighbors. In fact, he said that it was not unusual for Arico to go unseen for weeks at a time.

Waguespack said that Arico, who has lived alone for more than 20 years, used to go to family gatherings and was sociable until 2005. Then something changed.

“I’ve known her my whole life, and she has always been a good person,” Waguespack, 47, said. “She used to always come to family gatherings and she evacuated with us for hurricanes, but she hasn’t been the same for the last five  or six years.”

Arico’s father, Jack Mule, was well-known in the Norco community. He owned Jack’s Barbershop, which was an Apple Street staple for decades. Councilwoman Carolyn Schexnaydre grew up near Arico and said that she was a kind woman who wouldn’t bother anyone.

“It is horrible that she died this way,” she said. “We knew her well. This is so sad.”

Champagne said that he doesn’t believe the suspects knew Arico and that her home was chosen because it was an easy target.

“This was a horrible, atrocious crime,” he said.

Waguespack said that his family is devastated by Arico’s death and that he doesn’t wish any mercy on her alleged killers.

“I don’t believe in the death penalty, but I want all four of them to fry,” he said. “No one deserves what happened to her, especially someone as kind as she was.

“This is a tragedy that my family will deal with for the rest of our lives at Thanksgiving time because we will constantly be reminded of how tragically and brutally Mary’s life was ended.”

All three of the juveniles arrested in the death of Arico  are being held without bond.  They are currently at the St. Bernard Juvenile Facility until their next court date.
Pauline Deese, the 17 year-old female also charged in the case is being held at the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center on a $100,000.

 

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