The horrible details of the case seem ripped right out of a Hollywood script — a kidnapped young girl, her missing mother and a suspect who, until weeks ago, was believed to be dead.

Just like a good thriller, the details of the case slowly came out and became more horrible with each turn.

Unfortunately, this script wasn’t in Hollywood, it was in our backyard in Catahoula Parish. Unlike in some films, everything didn’t end nicely.

Most residents know the story that followed. The tale quickly spiraled from bad to worse when the young girl’s remains were discovered by a hunter.

Three weeks later, we learned the little girl’s identity. Within days a suspect was named and the national spotlight began shining on the case as fact after fact surfaced, each seemingly more unbelievable than the previous one.

Throughout the investigation and its apparent conclusion with Sunday’s arrest of a suspect in the girl’s murder and the discovery of her mother’s body a day later, we’ve been impressed by Catahoula Parish Sheriff James Kelly and his handling of the case.

Kelly has adeptly handled the press and constantly kept the public updated on the investigation led by his office, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Although none of us like when such a horrible crime throws our community into the national spotlight, it is good to know our law enforcement needs appear to be in such capable, calm hands.