Police Pursue New Leads In Lynda Meier Disappearance
MIAMI GARDENS (CBS4) – More than a year after the baffling and disturbing disappearance of a Hallandale Beach woman, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, along with other law enforcement and fire department agencies gathered near a Miami Gardens canal Monday in a search for evidence related to the disappearance of Lynda Meier.
The search took place in a 190-acre tract of private, fenced land near NW 207th Street and 41st Avenue in Miami Gardens. A small pond is contained in the property.
The FDLE, along with Miramar Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's Florida Task Force One converged, setting up two white tents along the canal bank.
Hallandale Beach Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy said "intelligence and other evidence has led us to this location to search for Meier's remains." Flournoy said the search could go on for a week. Special cadaver dogs have also been brought in to help in the search.
"The information that brought us here has been coming in since Linda Meier's disappearance," said FDLE Special Agent William Arnow said. "There isn't a smoking gun that led us here."
Meier was 40 years old when she was last seen early on the morning of June 4th of 2010. She was seen on fuzzy surveillance tape leaving her beach side condominium. A surveillance camera captured her taking cash from an ATM.
Her Cadillac Escalade was last seen going westbound on Hallandale Beach Boulevard from U.S. 1. The vehicle was found abandoned a week later in Opa-Locka.
Earlier this month, Hallandale Beach Police Chief Dwayne Flournoy told CBS4 News that they have "much of the puzzle together and just need a few more pieces." He also stated that detectives do not believe Meier is alive.
Although no charges have been filed, Flournoy pointed to two persons of interest: Antwan Kennedy and Dallas King. Meier had been Kennedy's mentor when she worked with youngsters in a program in Overtown. The Chief says they had been romantically involved.
"We're still look ing at Mr. King and Mr. Kennedy as persons of interest," added Flournoy on Monday.
Dallas King is now serving a life sentence for violating his probation after committing an armed robbery, records show. At last report, Kennedy was living in Miramar.
"We know that Dallas King had possession of credit cards and other property belonging to Linda Meier," said Flournoy. King had told police that the credit cards were given to him by Kennedy.
Surveillance tape from a Walmart store in Miami showed two women shopping with smiles on their faces who police say were caught using Meier's credit cards. Those women, Suzanne Panchoo and Jessica Morales, were not arrested and charged in this case and they are not suspects in the disappearance of Meier.
There was a $51,000 reward in this case. If you know anything, call Hallandale Beach Police or Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477).
