Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested a Breaux Bridge woman on April 16 as part of an ongoing joint investigation with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office after a former fifth-grade teacher in the parish was charged with first degree rape and other crimes against children.
The case concerns allegations involving the sexual abuse of a child under thirteen years old. The arrest is significant because it represents continued efforts by law enforcement to address crimes against children in Louisiana.
Cortney Burleigh, age 37, was taken into custody and booked into the St. Martin Parish Jail. She faces felony charges including cruelty to juveniles, indecent behavior with juveniles/accessory after the fact, and obstruction of justice. Investigators say Burleigh was not employed as a teacher at Teche Elementary School but became implicated during further inquiry into former teacher Marisa Noel’s alleged actions.
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation assisted local authorities throughout the process, which also involved Homeland Security Investigations. During this ongoing investigation, additional offenses were uncovered that led to new charges for Noel and subsequently to Burleigh’s arrest for her involvement.
“We will continue to support our partners across the State and bring to justice anyone who exploits or sexually abuses the children of Louisiana,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill.
According to the official website, Liz Murrill leads the Louisiana Department of Justice as attorney general, which serves as the primary legal office for Louisiana under an independently elected attorney general. The department provides services statewide and focuses on protecting constitutional rights while offering legal resources for citizens across Louisiana. The agency has also worked on preserving state culture through legal means and has challenged federal overreach in more than 35 cases according to its official website.
Officials emphasize that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
