In the quiet community of Westlake, Louisiana, the life of 17-year-old Kyla Lenee Hidalgo was tragically cut short on July 15, 2020. A student at Westlake High School with a passion for theater, archery, and spending time with her loved ones, Kyla was on the cusp of her senior year. Her warm presence and love for life were well-known, making the events that unfolded in the early morning hours of that summer day all the more shocking to those who knew her.
The night of July 14th bled into
a morning of unimaginable horror when a frantic 911 call was made from the Hidalgo residence. Kyla's mother, Catherine Hidalgo, reported that Neil Patrick Broussard, a 51-year-old convicted sex offender and family acquaintance, was inside their home. The call captured Catherine's desperate pleas for her children's lives before the line went silent. When deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office arrived, they discovered a gruesome scene. Kyla and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Kaleb Charlton, had been shot multiple times and were pronounced dead at the scene. Catherine Hidalgo was also found with life-threatening gunshot wounds but survived. In the chaos, Broussard had kidnapped Kyla's 14-year-old sister and fled in the family's vehicle.
A manhunt for Neil Broussard ensued, and he was apprehended the following day after two vigilant Dollar General employees in the nearby town of Ragley recognized him, locked him inside the store, and alerted authorities. The search for Kyla's younger sister ended in relief when she was found safe, and the stolen car was recovered. The investigation took another startling turn with the arrest of a second suspect: Neil Broussard's wife, 41-year-old Tori Lynette Broussard. In a shocking revelation, it was discovered that Tori Broussard was a chief investigator for the Calcasieu Parish Public Defender's Office. Authorities alleged that she had been aware of her husband's intentions and had aided him in his attempt to evade a previous rape allegation.
Both Neil and Tori Broussard were subsequently indicted on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Kyla Hidalgo and Kaleb Charlton. Neil Broussard faced additional charges of attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Catherine Hidalgo, second-degree kidnapping of the younger sister, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney's office announced its intention to seek the death penalty for Neil Broussard, underscoring the brutality of the crimes.
The legal proceedings have been moving through the court system, marked by various pre-trial motions and hearings. As of early 2024, a new judge was assigned to the case, and legal arguments concerning the admissibility of evidence, including statements made by Tori Broussard, have been a focus. The community of Westlake and the families of the victims await the next steps in the judicial process, holding onto the memory of a vibrant young woman whose life was stolen far too soon.
