Cody Allen Laviolette has been indicted on first-degree murder and third-degree charges of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in connection with the death of Kelly Taylor Mariah Little, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release dated November 3. Little, 31, was a mother of three and lived with her children at Laviolette’s home, authorities said.
The investigation began after deputies responded to Laviolette’s home on May 23 to a report that a woman was having a seizure. Little was taken to a hospital and died the following morning, according to a report by CBS affiliate KHOU-TV. Authorities described the death as suspicious.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation has led to Laviolette, 36, facing 16 felony charges. These include the murder indictment and allegations involving child sexual abuse and bestiality. He has not entered a plea, according to People, and information about his legal representation was not immediately available.
Laviolette was arrested in July on charges of aggravated assault and unlawful restraint. The sheriff’s office said witnesses had come forward and that investigators were examining his activities. His mother was also arrested, on a charge of manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance, the agency said.
Authorities have said several women reported interactions with Laviolette as the investigation progressed. Investigators also said they suspected there may be additional victims based on evidence they collected. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with relevant information, or who believes they may have been a victim, to contact the agency.
Laviolette remains in the Polk County Jail. The sheriff’s office said his combined bond amounts total $5.4 million.
Sources: Us Weekly.