A Louisiana woman who deputies say was found nude in a neighbor’s pond and claimed she was “trying to be a mermaid” was arrested Tuesday after turning herself in on warrants stemming from the November encounter in rural Union Parish.
The case drew attention for its unusual details and for the delay between the initial call and the arrest, which authorities said followed medical treatment. The Union Parish Sheriff’s Office identified the woman as Erin Elizabeth Sutton, 41, of Marion. Officials said the investigation began after a trespassing complaint in the Linville community north of Monroe. The sheriff’s office obtained warrants following the incident and Sutton’s hospital evaluation; she surrendered on Jan. 6 and was booked on multiple counts. Her bond was set at $62,000, according to booking information provided by authorities.
Deputies were dispatched after neighbors reported a disturbance and a person refusing to leave private property. A responding deputy found Sutton in the pond and ordered her to come out, officials said. Sutton initially ignored commands and told the deputy she was “trying to be a mermaid,” according to the sheriff’s office. As temperatures fell, emergency medical personnel were called to check her condition. After leaving the water, Sutton was covered with a blanket, but when the deputy attempted to escort her to shelter, she allegedly charged him, leading to a struggle on the property. A Taser was deployed with no effect, authorities said, and Sutton continued to resist until she was restrained.
Investigators said Sutton kicked and punched during the scuffle and later threatened to kill deputies and paramedics while being transported for treatment. No injuries to neighbors were immediately reported, and the sheriff’s office did not disclose the deputy’s medical status. Officials said the initial call originated in the Linville area near Marion, a sparsely populated part of Union Parish. The agency did not release 911 audio or body-camera video, and it did not specify the exact time in November when the disturbance call came in. It also was not clear whether alcohol or drugs were factors; authorities described the behavior as belligerent and said disturbing-the-peace and intoxication counts were included among the charges.
Records provided by the sheriff’s office list three counts of resisting an officer with force or violence, two counts of public intimidation, two counts of battery of a police officer, and single counts of criminal trespassing and disturbing the peace. Officials said warrants were pursued after the on-scene detention because Sutton was taken to a hospital for cold exposure and additional evaluation, prompting a pause in booking. The office did not immediately list an attorney for Sutton. As of Friday morning, she remained jailed pending a court appearance in Union Parish.
The Linville call adds to a stream of unusual rural law-enforcement incidents that periodically make national headlines from north Louisiana parishes. Union Parish, which borders Arkansas, is largely timber and farmland, with small communities clustered around Marion, Farmerville and Bernice. Deputies there typically patrol two-lane roads and private ponds on properties where livestock outnumber residents. The sheriff’s office said it fields recurring trespass complaints tied to disputes between neighbors and occasional public-intoxication cases, particularly during holiday periods when families gather and nights turn cold.
Procedurally, prosecutors will review the arrest report, medical paperwork and witness statements before deciding on formal charges. An initial appearance is expected in the coming days in Union Parish, where a judge could set conditions of release or keep the existing bond. If a bill of information is filed, court dates for arraignment and any pretrial motions would follow. The sheriff’s office said additional evidence, including any photographs taken by first responders, will be turned over to the district attorney as part of discovery. Officials have not announced a date for a public briefing.
Neighbors in the Linville area described a quiet, wooded community where ponds sit behind fence lines. One resident who asked not to be named said she saw emergency lights but did not leave her porch. “We heard shouting and then saw the ambulance,” the neighbor said. A Union Parish resident shopping in Farmerville on Thursday called the case “bizarre but serious,” adding that the reported threats against responders were most concerning. The sheriff’s office said its deputy returned to duty after the incident.
As of Friday, Sutton was being held on $62,000 bond while prosecutors reviewed the case. The next milestone is an initial court setting expected early next week.
Author note: Last updated January 9, 2026.