Hallandale Beach Police Confirm Remains Found Are Those Of Lynda Meier
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HALLANDALE BEACH (CBSMiami) – Phylis Meier has lived for more than 8 years not knowing what became of her daughter, Lynda, who vanished in June 2010.
On Thursday, Hallandale Beach Police brought much-needed and long-sought answers go Meier's family. Police confirmed that remains found in a wooded area in Miami Gardens last week are those of Meier.
"Through the Medical Examiner's Office and dental records the human remains found were indeed Lynda Meier," said Hallandale Beach Police Chief Sonia Quinones.
"It's incredible that they found her," Meier said. "I never thought I'd come to a day like this because it's such a big area out there. It's like a needle in a haystack to find somebody."
Hallandale Beach Police say they followed every lead and dug for 4 days last week, making the long-awaited discovery.
"After more than 8 years, we got the break that we needed," said Troy Walker, Miami Special Agent in Charge of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
FDLE is handling the homicide investigation. Walker said he hopes Meier's remains and new evidence lead to her killer or killers.
"We will not stop until we know exactly what happened to Lynda and until those responsible for her death are brought to justice," he said. "The discovery of her body has provided investigators with additional clues and evidence and we are currently following up on those leads."
Meier disappeared in 2010 after leaving her Hallandale Beach condo and withdrawing money from an ATM.
Her distinctive red Cadillac Escalade was found abandoned in Opa-Locka days after she disappeared. In the past police named Meier's friend Antwan Kennedy and his friend Dallas King as persons of interest in the case.
Neither has been charged and both denied involvement in the case although police in the past said that King was captured on surveillance video using Meier's credit card after her disappearance.
At Thursdays' news conference investigators would not talk about the two men saying that this is an open murder case.
For Lynda Meier's family it's been a long journey to this day.
"It's a very empty feeling, very lonely," Meier said. "All these years, I prayed that we would find something about where she was. It makes a difference. A tremendous difference."
There are many unanswered questions about how Lynda Meier died and what new evidence has been recovered.
But FDLE would not talk about any of that Thursday.
Instead, they said they still need help from the public and they asked anyone with information on this case to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS or FDLE at 1-800-226-3023 with tips.
