The Youngsville community is struggling to process a devastating turn of events following the death of 70-year-old Thelma Thibeaux, whose killing has prompted a homicide investigation and led to the arrest of her own grandson, according to an updated press release from the Youngsville Police Department.

Police say the incident began on February 6 at approximately 9:30 a.m., when officers received a report of a stolen white SUV from the 200 block of Fourth Street within the city limits. With assistance from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Real Time Crime Center, the vehicle was quickly located. A suspect was apprehended after a pursuit involving a Youngsville Police Department unit, which ended in a collision with a police vehicle.

Shortly after the pursuit, officers received another call from the same block of Fourth Street regarding an unresponsive female. Upon entering the residence during the ongoing investigation, officers discovered one female deceased inside the home. Authorities have since confirmed the incident is being investigated as a homicide.

The victim was identified as Thelma Thibeaux, a 70-year-old Youngsville resident. One suspect, Dylan Green, a 20-year-old male and the victim’s grandson, is currently in custody. Police say Green will be booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on charges of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Aggravated Flight from an Officer, and First Degree Murder.

The news has sent shockwaves through Youngsville, where residents describe the loss as both heartbreaking and deeply unsettling. Neighbors and community members are mourning Thelma Thibeaux, remembered as a familiar and cherished presence whose life ended in unimaginable circumstances.

Authorities emphasize that the investigation remains ongoing and that additional information will be released as it becomes available. As the case unfolds, the Youngsville community is left united in grief, seeking comfort and answers in the wake of a profound tragedy.