July 06, 2021  |  01:52 pm

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Lacombe man in connection with a rape which occurred on Sunday, July 4TH.

At approximately 6:00 p.m. on July 4, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies came into contact with a 64 year old Slidell woman who claimed she had been sexually assaulted while out riding her bicycle near the Lacombe-area. 

The subsequent investigation led STPSO deputies to a residence located in the 61000 block of Shady Pine Rd. in Lacombe where they came into contact with Rene Murrell who was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on the following charges:

L.R.S. 14:42    First Degree Rape

L.R.S.  14:108 Resisting Arrest

The investigation remains ongoing and no additional information is available, at this time.

“This is an absolute tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family, during this difficult time,” Sheriff Randy Smith said.