Prosecutors: Woman wasn't kidnapped; she was an accomplice

(State Police Photo)

Petitbois, Eveillard, and the children were photographed early Wednesday by a surveillance camera at South Station, apparently heading towards New York.

By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Law enforcement officials initially believed that a man who allegedly murdered a woman Wednesday in Lynn had kidnapped his estranged girlfriend and their four small children and dragged them with him as he fled to New York. Now, they think the man's girlfriend may have gone on her own volition.

Louna Eveillard, 26, of Lynn was arrested today in Brooklyn, N.Y., and charged with being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Greenland Etienne, 33, the Essex County district attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, announced this afternoon. Rodlyn Petitbois, 25, is charged in the stabbing death of Etienne.

Initial witness statements indicated that Eveillard and her four small children, who had been staying with Etienne, were taken against their will by Petitbois. But police now believe that Eveillard may have gone willingly with Petitbois, prosecutors said in a statement.

Police responded to a second-floor apartment on High Rock Street at about 1:06 a.m. on Wednesday. They found Etienne suffering from a stab wound to the face. Etienne was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital a short time later.

An Amber Alert was issued by the Massachusetts State Police. Petitbois, Eveillard and the children were found Wednesday evening in New York. Petitbois was arrested without incident and Eveillard and the children were found in a nearby park.

Petitbois is to be arraigned Monday in Lynn District Court on charges of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, prosecutors said. If Eveillard chooses not to fight extradition, she is expected to face arraignment in the same court sometime next week.

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