Rijhanelle Yvette Wells Flugence, 45, and Joseph Roberts Jr., 55, of New Iberia, Iberia Parish, Louisiana, United States have been arrested by the New Iberia Police Department. They were accused of robbing and beating a person with a disability.

Witnesses said Flugence lured the victim off the street to an isolated area at the intersection of Corrine and Field Streets in New Iberia on April 25, 2021. She and Roberts allegedly robbed and severely beat the victim, which caused permanent damage.

When Iberia Police Department officers arrested Flugence on the morning of May 1, 2021 on Bank Street in New Iberia, they found narcotics and drug paraphernalia and she tried to harm herself, The Daily Iberian reported. In the afternoon, the officers arrested Roberts on Corrine Street.

Both Flugence and Roberts were charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree robbery and cruelty to the infirm. In addition, she was charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and self-mutilation.

Flugence and Roberts are being held in the Iberia Parish Jail without bail. The name of their victim was not released.

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Aside from New Iberia, Flugence has lived in other parts of Louisiana including Lafayette. She attended New Iberia Freshman High.

From 2011 to 2012, Flugence attended Cornerstone Christian Bible College where she earned her associate’s degree in evangelistic studies. In 2017, she attended the first annual women workshop of the F.A.D.E. Foundation.

Flugence is married to Joseph J. Flugence, 54, of Lafayette. The latter is an alumnus of Ovey Comeaux High School in Lafayette and World Christian Fellowship.