Kidnapped woman rescued by cousin in Louisiana, police said

By Simon Moya-Smith, Staff Writer, NBC News

A woman who had been kidnapped two days earlier was found Friday with multiple stab wounds inside an abandoned house in Louisiana -- and freed by family members in a daring operation, police said.

The man who allegedly held her hostage for 30 hours in a vacant home in Ducson, La., was shot and killed by the woman's cousin as he rescued her, police said.

Authorities of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office had been searching for Bethany Arceneaux, 29, since late Wednesday, after her car was found abandoned outside her child's day care center, Capt. Kip Judice told NBC News.

Judice said police believed Scott Thomas, 29, who is the father of Arceneaux's son, was the abductor. The two had an ongoing domestic dispute, and Arceneaux had a restraining order against Thomas, Judice added.

The woman's family decided to look for Arceneaux themselves. On Friday, a group of about 20 relatives formed a search party and began to look for her on foot, Judice said.

While on the trail, Arceneaux's cousin allegedly heard cries coming from inside an abandoned home in a sugar field located about 10 miles from where the woman was last seen.

Armed with a gun, the man forced his way into the home. As he made his way through the house, Thomas allegedly began stabbing Arceneaux several times. The woman's cousin then fired several shots at Thomas and then fled the premises with Arceneaux, Judice said.

The woman confirmed to authorities that Thomas was shot by her cousin as Thomas was stabbing her.

Arceneaux is undergoing treatment at the Lafayette General Medical Center and is in good condition, Judice said.

When police entered the vacant home, Thomas was found dead.

He had allegedly held Arceneaux at knifepoint for 30 hours before she was rescued from the home, Judice added.

Arceneaux's cousin is not in police custody and has not been charged with a crime. He is cooperating with authorities, Judice said.

Under Louisiana law, a justifiable homicide statute allows an individual to defend himself as well as others he feels are in danger, which includes great bodily harm or death, police said.