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56-year-old charged with murder after throwing hot cooking oil on woman

The victim told officers that they had an argument the night before the incident.
Credit: Angel Thompson

LAPLACE – A woman has been charged with murder after throwing a pot of hot oil on another woman in LaPlace, according to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The incident occurred on February 26 around 6:45 a.m. when officer responded to the 1700 block of Creole Street. Officers discovered 50-year-old Alena Populis sitting on the floor with severe burns on her face, left shoulder and legs.

Populis told officers that 56-year-old Stacey Williams Sylvester, who was a friend of Populis, came to her home and attacked her with a pot of boiling cooking oil after the two had an argument the night before, the sheriff’s office says.

A short time after the incident, officers found Sylvester walking to her home on Delta Road. Sylvester later confessed to police.

Populis was taken to an area burn unit for treatment, but succumbed to her injuries on March 5.

Sylvester was originally arrested for aggravated second-degree battery the day the incident occurred, but that charge has been upgraded to degree murder. She is currently being held on a $485,000 bond.

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