Eunice, LA (11/15/2023) – According to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office (SLPSO), an Eunice woman was arrested for a counterfeit death certificate.
On November 14, 2023, SLPSO Deputies were dispatched to a local medical facility regarding a counterfeit death certificate for a stillborn child. Staff members stated that Kayley Vige had forged a fake death certificate for a baby that she allegedly delivered on November 3, 2023, and the physician’s signature on the certificate was forged.”
According to the initial investigation by deputies, KVige once had an appointment at the local medical center in June 2023, where the physician is located; however, she has not been seen as a patient in the facility since that date.
Additionally, the medical center obtained a copy of the death certificate. The physician listed on the death certificate stated that he had never seen Vige as a patient. The medical center then contacted the hospital listed on the death certificate. The hospital’s legal team stated that they reviewed the death certificate and all statements made by staff. The medical center was advised to contact local law enforcement due to the death certificate being counterfeit.
When deputies questioned family members, it was learned that they believed Vige to be pregnant but were given very little information about the pregnancy other than ultrasound photos. They also believed that Vige suffered a miscarriage. They advised that she had a long history of mental health and often lied for attention.
When Vige’s boyfriend was questioned, it was learned that Vige called him and requested a ride home from the local hospital where the unborn child had passed. When they arrived home, she showed him a death certificate for their child, which was obtained on the date of the miscarriage and bore no time stamp. The boyfriend went to the hospital but could not obtain any records because she left the hospital against medical advice. When he asked Vige why she left, she said she couldn’t do the blood work.
When questioned by deputies, Vige stated that she did not create the document or present it to any medical facility or doctor. She also stated that she did contact the hospital to obtain a copy of her medical records and further denied ever seeing a death certificate; however, she did state that she created counterfeit ultrasound photos and dated the photos September 13, 2023.
Upon further investigation by deputies, it was learned that death certificate templates are available online and for download. Upon searching the internet “Images”, deputies could find and locate the exact death certificate provided, excluding the self-typed data. Upon going to the website, the fields could be edited/filled in by the user, creating a completely filled-out death certificate.
On November 14, 2023, Kayley Lynn Vige, 21, of Eunice, Louisiana, was transported to the St. Landry Parish Jail and charged with false preparation of death and spontaneous fetal death certificate (stillborn). No bond has been set at this time
Vige has neither confirmed nor denied that the pregnancy existed. Deputies continue to search for a motive for Vige to stage a fake pregnancy.
A law enforcement-related agency has provided this information as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal “All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
