THIBODAUX — Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of two women accused of stealing from an elderly man and using his credit card to make more than a dozen unauthorized purchases.
Renelle Batiste, 34, of Donaldsonville, and Jessica Thomas, 41, of Thibodaux, were arrested on June 1, 2026, following an investigation into the theft.
According to investigators, the victim reported his wallet missing after visiting a casino in Thibodaux. The man told authorities he had interacted with a woman later identified as Batiste shortly before discovering the wallet was gone. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Batiste assisting the victim while allegedly reaching toward his rear pocket before leaving the casino moments later.
After the theft, the victim discovered 13 unauthorized transactions had been made using his credit card within a 24-hour period, resulting in losses exceeding $1,000.
Detectives, working with assistance from the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office, identified Batiste as the primary suspect in the theft. The investigation also revealed evidence that Thomas allegedly participated in the fraudulent use of the victim’s credit card.
Both women were booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. Batiste and Thomas each face 13 counts of access device fraud. Thomas’ bond was set at $20,000.
Batiste was additionally charged with purse snatching, and her bond was set at $40,000.
The investigation remains ongoing.
