A 75-year-old woman from Louisiana, identified as Alice Rollinson Idlett, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of her 16-month-old son, more than five decades after the incident.
The arrest comes after a series of disturbing letters written by Idlett to her then-husband surfaced, revealing horrifying thoughts about the child and alleged repeated abuse.
Infant’s Death Reopened After 52 Years
The case had remained unsolved since January 1970, when Idlett brought her son, Earl D. Bunch III, to a hospital in Sulphur, Louisiana. Medical staff found the child gasping for breath and limp, and X-rays showed multiple skull fractures and injuries to his right shoulder. The child died the next day.
At the time, Idlett told doctors the injuries may have come from a fall out of bed at a relative’s home weeks earlier. No one was charged, and the case was believed to be a tragic accident.
Letters Reveal a Dark Truth
It wasn’t until years later, during a custody battle in 1985, that the chilling truth began to surface. Court records show Idlett had written several deeply disturbing letters to her husband, who was serving in the U.S. Army in Thailand at the time of the child’s death.
In the letters, she expressed her hatred toward the baby, saying:
“I just got through whipping that little bastard… I hate him. I wish I would have died when he was born.”
In another letter, she wrote:
“I’ll kill him before he becomes spoilt. I honestly mean that.”
She repeatedly referred to the child as a burden, writing:
“If he would die tomorrow I wouldn’t care. He is the one who ruined my life.”
Husband’s Discovery Sparks New Suspicion
Years after their divorce, Idlett’s ex-husband discovered the old letters and, shocked by their content, contacted authorities. He also spoke to the doctor who had treated Earl, who confirmed that the child had bruises, bite marks, and even a burn mark on his buttocks, which were not consistent with a simple fall.
The doctor testified that Earl’s injuries looked like he had been beaten severely or swung against a wall or furniture. He also noted that Idlett appeared calm and emotionless when she brought the injured child to the hospital.
Case Reopened in 2022, Body Exhumed
In 2022, after a request from Earl’s family, detectives in Sulphur reopened the investigation. With the help of the FBI, Earl’s body was exhumed for forensic testing.
A full autopsy confirmed that Earl’s death was a homicide. This led to Idlett’s arrest in 2024, more than 50 years after the boy’s death.
Idlett Now in Jail, Awaiting Court Appearance
Alice Idlett is currently being held at the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on a $950,000 bond. She is facing one count of second-degree murder.