RAYNE, La. (KLFY) — The Rayne Police Department are investigating a suspicious death. This comes after authorities said a body was found floating in a pond Tuesday evening.

Detectives said a fisherman reported seeing a body floating in a pond near the westbound ramp of Interstate 10 in Rayne, around 7 p.m., Tuesday. The body was recovered with help from the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office

and the Acadia Parish Coroner’s Office. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

News 10 spoke to Hilda Wiltz, a resident in Rayne, who said she was in shock about the discovery of the body.

“That was a shock, ” said Wiltz. “When they said a body, I was like this is not New York, New Orleans, this is not a big city, what is going on.”

She said this incident raises questions on how safe residents really are in the city.

“I just wonder, are we safe now, if this kind of thing is happening, we need to beef up some security footage, security lights, we need to look at having patrol more, you know especially in the evenings, at night,” said Wiltz.

Wiltz said she offers her condolences to the family of the victim and hopes this serves as a wakeup call for community awareness.

“Rest their soul,” said Wiltz. “We’re so sorry, to the family, we say our condolences, but it is so important for us to be aware, even if our community is nice and calm and peaceful.”

A cause of death is unknown at this time as the Rayne Police Department is awaiting a report from the Acadia Parish Coroner’s Office. This is a developing story.

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