Grand Jury Indicts Ascension Parish Parents After Bedridden Child's Death

A 5-year-old boy who reportedly weighed about 19 pounds when he died has prompted a grand jury indictment charging his parents with second-degree murder and related offenses, thrusting a small Louisiana community into a criminal and child welfare crisis.

Prosecutors presented the case to a grand jury on Feb. 2, 2026, and returned indictments against 27-year-old Raynisa Young and Marlon Perrilloux, who has been reported as 32 or 33 years old. The child has been identified as Marley Perrilloux. The charges follow an investigation that began after the parents sought emergency help on New Year’s Day.

According to the timeline developed by investigators, the parents placed Marley in a car and called 911 on Jan. 1, 2026. Deputies met the family at a gas station off Highway 73 around 9:30 p.m., began CPR and transported the child to a local hospital. Marley was pronounced dead at 9:44 p.m. Perrilloux and Young were arrested the next day and were booked without bond.

Investigators described the child as bedridden and apparently confined to the home prior to his death. Reports from the scene included cellphone video and accounts of the home environment that led authorities to remove other children from the residence. A firearm was recovered during the investigation, and officials noted that discovery could lead to enhancement of charges against the parents.

The indictment for second-degree murder carries serious felony exposure and marks a step forward in the criminal process. An indictment means the case will proceed toward arraignment and trial unless resolved earlier through plea negotiations. Booking without bond indicates prosecutors and judges assessed a significant flight or safety risk in this matter.

For readers tracking the case, the human details are stark: a 5-year-old at an estimated 19 pounds and about 35 inches tall, described as bedridden, raises immediate red flags about extreme neglect and medical deprivation. Those facts matter not only for criminal accountability but for how child protective services and the courts coordinate to protect any surviving siblings.

This case has already drawn strong local reaction and has been characterized by authorities as one of the more disturbing prosecutions in the parish. What comes next is a sequence of court dates, potential enhancements tied to the firearm, and determinations about criminal culpability and child welfare oversight.

Community members who want to follow developments should expect formal filings and court appearances in the coming weeks. Beyond courtroom outcomes, this case underscores the need to report suspected abuse or severe neglect promptly so investigations can intervene before tragedy repeats.