Grandmother arrested after 10-month-old found dead, 2-year-old in critical condition

BROUSSARD, La. (TCD) -- A 49-year-old faces a murder charge after her 10-month-old grandson was found dead and his 2-year-old brother injured.

According to KLFY-TV, on Monday, May 16, Broussard Police conducted a welfare check at a home on East Third Street and found the two children. The 2-year-old was taken to a hospital in critical condition, but he was later upgraded to stable.

KATC-TV reports Tammy Clause is the children's caretaker.

Rachel Hebert, the children's mother, told KLFY her infant tied of malnutrition and dehydration. The 2-year-old was reportedly close to death, too. According to KLFY, Broussard Police say the children had not consumed food or water for over a week. Clause is their paternal grandmother.

Hebert said she took 2-year-old Tyler Jr. and 10-month-old Hudson to Clause's home on Mother's Day, but did not receive any phone calls or text messages for over a week. She drove two hours to Clause's home, but Clause allegedly would not open the door for her. When police forced their way into the home, they found Hudson dead.

Clause had taken care of the children in the past, Hebert explained.

Hebert told KLFY, "The fact that I have to bury my little infant breaks my heart even more. I just thought to myself, How could their grandmother do this? What caused her to do something like this? What made her snap?"

Lafayette Parish Jail records show Clause is being held on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to juvenile.

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