A Louisiana man faces spending the rest of his life in prison after being convicted of a horrific, years-long campaign of incestuous rape and physical abuse that left a young family member pregnant and with permanent injuries.
A Campaign of Brutal Abuse
Larry Darby, 61, was found guilty last week at Caddo District Court of multiple charges, including aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest, and sexual battery. The court heard how Darby repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim over a six-year period, starting in 2003 when she was just 12 years old.
Prosecutors detailed a pattern of extreme violence where Darby would beat and strangle the girl when she resisted his advances. The abuse inflicted such severe injuries that the victim testified to having her upper teeth knocked out and being left with permanent scarring on her neck.
Pregnancy and a Stalled Investigation
The series of assaults culminated in the victim becoming pregnant. She was forced to carry the pregnancy to term, resulting in the birth of Darby's child. DNA evidence presented at trial confirmed Darby was the father, a crucial piece of information that helped revive the case.
An initial investigation in 2005 had stalled, but the case was reopened years later when additional corroborating evidence became available to investigators. The Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office credited the victim's immense courage in coming forward and testifying for securing the convictions.
Justice Delivered and a Lifetime Behind Bars
Following the guilty verdict, Darby now faces a mandatory life sentence for the aggravated rape conviction. He could receive up to an additional 50 years in prison for the other charges, including up to 20 years at hard labour for each count of aggravated incest.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 27. Prosecutors also revealed Darby had a prior conviction from 2022 for assaulting a stepchild, which they used to demonstrate a pattern of abusive behaviour.
Caddo Parish District Attorney James E Stewart Sr stated that the verdict affirmed the victim's long-held truth. "While time passed, the truth did not change," Stewart said. "Justice delayed does not have to be justice denied." The DA's office emphasised that the case highlights the critical importance of listening to survivors and ensuring robust systems are in place when children disclose abuse.
