• Human remains found in Vinton, Louisiana, have been confirmed as those of missing mother of six, Tameika S. Watley, bringing both closure and anguish to her family.
• Authorities say no evidence of foul play yet; family insists someone knows more than they’re saying.
• Her life, her absence, and her death have awakened a community to grief, questions, and the long road toward justice.

LAKE CHARLES/VINTON, Louisiana (TDR) — Nearly fifteen months after she was last heard from, 37-year-old Tameika S. Watley, a mother of six from Lake Charles, has been officially confirmed dead. Human remains found in a wooded area off U.S. Highway 90 in Vinton earlier this summer were identified by the Louisiana State University FACES Lab as hers, according to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

A Disappearance That Haunted The Family

The last time Watley spoke to her family was June 5, 2024. Her mother, Anita Watley, remembers the conversation like it was yesterday. In the weeks that followed, she failed to attend family events and birthdays. Concern turned to alarm, and by mid-June her family reported her missing. Without a permanent address or working cell phone, her movements in the weeks before her disappearance remained difficult to trace.

The Discovery & Identification

On June 16, 2025, a passerby came across human remains in the woods near Gum Gully off U.S. 90 in Vinton. The remains were sent to the FACES Lab, which last week confirmed they belonged to Watley. Deputies emphasized that investigators found no immediate evidence of foul play, though the case remains open.

Grief Mixed with Hope & Questions

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For Watley’s family, the confirmation brought a heartbreaking mixture of relief and devastation. “All I want is justice for my baby. All I want is—all I want to know,” said her sister, Juanita Shavers. Her mother, Anita, continues to lean on her faith: “We are going to get through this … with the strength of God,” she said, recalling how prayer has carried her through the long months of uncertainty.

Her children continue to mourn. Daughter Dy’amond said simply, “I want justice for my mommy.” Her siblings remember Tameika as someone full of energy and warmth who always made sure her kids had what they needed.

Meanwhile, friends and family have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses and provide support for her six children. The drive has already raised thousands and stands as a testament to the community’s willingness to rally behind the family in their grief.

Mystery Continues

Despite identification, pressing questions remain unanswered. Why did Watley go missing? What happened in the days after her last call with her mother? What circumstances led her to the woods near Vinton? The family believes someone in the community knows more than they are admitting.

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Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Even without proof of foul play, detectives stress that the case is not closed and fresh information could change the direction of the investigation.

Remembering Her Life

Born March 12, 1987, in Los Angeles, Tameika Shuntel Watley — affectionately known as “Meika” — spent most of her life in Lake Charles. A 2005 graduate of Washington Marion Magnet High School, she was known for her sense of humor, her devotion to family, and her love of music and bingo nights. She worked for years at Pat’s of Henderson and made it a priority to build memories with her loved ones.

She leaves behind six children: daughters Tayvia Thierry, Grace Robinson, and Dy’Amond Harden; sons Ja’Quaylon Thierry, JaNathan Watley, and Ta’Merius Harden. Her mother Anita, stepfather John Johnson, sisters Miranda, Juanita, Elizabeth, Michelle, Katrina, and Georgia, as well as one grandchild, nieces, and nephews, now carry her legacy. Her father, David Thomas, preceded her in death.

A Family’s Plea

In front of cameras and at vigils, her relatives have repeated the same plea: someone out there knows something. They pray that conscience or courage will drive that person to come forward. Justice, for them, is not abstract. It is the only path toward healing.

Will someone in the community break their silence and reveal the truth about what happened to Tameika Watley — or will her family’s search for justice remain unanswered?

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