A St. Landry Parish grand jury has indicted 53-year-old John Edmond on one count of first degree murder on Grace Noel.

The 70-year-old woman’s body was found by authorities inside her Saint Syr Avenue home on March 23.

Authorities said Noel was bludgeoned to death.

Before being taken to the Opelousas Police Station, Edmond professed his innocence outside the home where Noel’s body was found.

“I didn’t even know what to do. That never happened to me like that before… Well anyway, I saw she was in the bathtub…” Edmond said.

As officers escorted him inside for questioning he maintained his innocence.

 “I ain’t did nothing. I just found her like that!,” he said.