Louisiana
Missing South Florida girl, 8, found safe in Louisiana in midst of ongoing custody battle between parents
MIAMI — An eight-year-old girl who was reported missing out of South Florida on Friday night has been found in Louisiana amid an ongoing custody battle between her parents.
Police shared in an Instagram post on Saturday afternoon that Liah Meza, from Homestead — a city about 40 miles south of Miami — is now safe with her father Christian Meza.
“We appreciate the community’s vigilance and swift action in helping to locate her,” the agency said. “Thank you to everyone who shared the alert and remained on the lookout. Your support made a difference.”
According to the initial report sent out by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Meza was last seen near the 40th block of NW 1st Ave. in Homestead and believed to be in the company of the girl’s mother Yailen Roche and the mother’s boyfriend Geovany Maresma-Burcet, both 38.
FDLE reported that the trio was traveling to Lafayette, Louisiana in a 2021 white Honda Pilot.
However, Roche and Maresma-Burcet reached out to CBS News Miami before police provided an update because they claimed that Meza was not missing but rather on vacation with them in Louisiana. Roche said they woke up surprised on Saturday morning when they found pictures of them on the news.
“We got in contact with our lawyers,” she told CBS News Miami. “They’re in the process of checking what’s happening because I have not gotten any notification of any… and they’re checking everything to put everything in place.”
CBS News Miami also reached out to Dina Shehata-Hujber, the lawyer for Meza’s father, who said “[Meza] is on her way home to Florida.”
Shehata-Hujber added in a statement that there is ongoing litigation related to the child, saying that there was a court order issued on Thursday, ordering law enforcement “to locate and return the child to Florida and placing her in dad’s sole custody until further order of the court.”
No further details related to Meza’s disappearance and finding were released at this time.
POINTE COUPEE PARISH, La. (WAFB) – Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Insurance will host a pop-up event in Pointe Coupee Parish to provide storm-related assistance.
The event will take place between noon and 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at the Pointe Coupee Parish Government offices on Main Street in New Roads.
Residents in Pointe Coupee Parish and surrounding areas will be able to get answers to questions about storm damage claims. Representatives from the Louisiana Department of Insurance will also help people with issues related to insurance and flooded homes or vehicles.
Anyone who can’t attend the pop-up event can reach out to their insurance agent or the Louisiana Department of Insurance by calling 800-259-5300.
Most Louisiana residents have flood insurance through the FEMA National Flood Insurance Program. However, many people may also have private flood insurance, state officials said. They added that flood insurance typically covers damage caused when water enters someone’s home from the ground up because of heavy rain, storm surge or flooding from a waterway.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance has put together a comprehensive document containing answers to questions that storm victims may have. Click here for more information.
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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A driver died from a gunshot wound after a Louisiana State Police car chase in New Orleans Saturday evening (June 20), but troopers say they did not fire the gun.
Troop NOLA confirmed the car chase ended near Franklin Avenue and North Miro Street Saturday. Troopers said they found the driver shot and brought them to the hospital, where that person died.
The driver’s identity has not been released.
A Troop NOLA spokesperson said he could not confirm if anyone else was in the car, if anyone has been arrested, or if troopers found a gun.
A spokesperson said more details will be released as a state police force investigation continues.
Troop NOLA is a special investigation unit tasked with proactive policing, traffic enforcement and crime reduction.
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