A Norco teen who authorities believe destroyed evidence after the murder of 77-year-old Mary Nancy Arico pled not guilty to accessory after the fact to first degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Police say that Pauline Deese, 18, knew about the murder allegedly committed by her younger brother and lied to detectives when questioned. Court documents say she also helped burn the clothing of her brother, Daniel Deese, in an attempt to conceal the crime and burned knives that may have been used in the homicide.
A 14-year-old juvenile, who is accused of principal to first-degree murder in the Arico case, told police that Pauline Deese asked her to help burn down Arico’s house after the murder was committed, according to court documents.
Arico, who lived at 115 Mary Street, was stabbed and beaten to death in her home on Nov. 8 in the 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.
In addition to Pauline Deese and the juvenile, two 16-year-old boys – identified as Daniel Deese and Braiden Sumrall in published reports – have been charged with first degree murder.
All of those arrested live in Norco.
In a press conference after the murder, 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.
An autopsy, determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head along with multiple stab wounds.
Deputies canvassed the Norco area 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.
Daniel Deese and Sumrall were originally indicted as adults in the case, but their cases were recently moved to juvenile court in March pending a sanity hearing.
The 14-year-old, will be tried as a juvenile.
Daniel Deese and Sumrall are being held at the St. Bernard Parish Juvenile Detention Facility without bond while the determination of their mental capacity is being made.
Pauline Deese has been free on bond since January.
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