The family of an Atlanta-area influencer is distraught following news that their 22-year-old loved one was discovered dead in the woods next to a torched car.
On Wednesday, Beauty Couch was found near her home in the Austell community near Joe Jerkins Boulevard and Landers Street, where police say fire officials were dispatched to the location to respond to a call of a brush fire. Upon arrival, they found a car set ablaze and found the vehicle was registered under one of Couch’s parents.
“They took my baby’s last breath. Why would they do that?” Kimberly Couch, the victim’s mother, questioned. “Why would they do this to my baby? That’s my baby, they took my heart away from me.”
Cobb County Police immediately launched an investigation and suspected foul play. Days after Couch’s death, police said a 21-year-old named Eugene Louis-Jocques of Florida was taken into custody in Louisiana.
“When they went and spoke to the owner that’s when they discovered that their daughter had not been seen since the previous morning so due to this, that’s what led them back to the location trying to see if maybe she was nearby and that’s when they found her in the wood line,” Officer Aaron Wilson said.
Prior to the gruesome discovery, Couch’s family said they had not seen or heard from her that morning.
The victim was well-known in her community as a dancer and won numerous skating competitions.
“I can’t imagine her being in this situation at all because she was so lovable, so caring, so fun, and so amazing. She impacted a lot of people and she did nothing to anybody for anyone to want to do her like this,” her sister, Leila Brown, told 11Alive.
Brown held back tears speaking about how her sister’s body was found.
“My sister was found in these woods like an animal. They said her car was burnt up and they found her just lying there.”
On Sunday evening, a candlelight vigil took place to celebrate Couch’s life.
Family and community members are now asking anyone with more information leading to Couch’s death to come forward.
If you or someone you know has any information about Couch’s death, please call CrimeStoppers at 404-577-8477.
