Rosalind Marie Meziere

Background

Rosalind Marie Meziere was born on 07/11/1962 in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to Walter Meziere Sr. and Allie Wright. She was one of seven children and grew up with siblings Walter, Rodney, Claudine, Judith, Penelope, and Jonathan. As one of the older children, Rosalind often helped care for her younger siblings. She later became the mother of two sons.

Her family remembered her as boisterous, vibrant, and magnetic, with a presence that naturally drew attention. Rosalind was also an avid reader. In 1974, she was recognized as one of the top five participants in the Natchitoches Parish Library’s Teenage Reading Club.

At the time of her death, Rosalind worked at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center.

She was interred at St. Augustine Catholic Church Cemetery in Melrose, Louisiana.

Case Summary

Rosalind’s mother last saw her on 09/11/1988, when she brought her sons over while she went grocery shopping. She later returned and spent time with her mother before leaving with the boys.

At approximately 10:45 pm on 09/13/1988, Rosalind left for a late shift at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center. She never arrived for work. Although she had not yet been formally reported missing, her family became concerned and began searching for her. Three of Rosalind’s younger siblings later recalled their parents driving around Natchitoches during the night looking for her.

On the morning of 09/15/1988, a passing motorist spotted what appeared to be a body in Cane River, near Pratt’s Bridge in the Natchez area south of Natchitoches. At approximately 8:11 am, a fisherman notified the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office. Around 9:00 am, Rosalind’s fully clothed body was recovered from the river, under the direction of detectives and the coroner, and subsequently identified.

Rosalind was still dressed for work in a maroon hospital shirt, hospital pants, and the sneakers she normally wore. Sheriff Norm Fletcher initially reported that there were no obvious external signs that she had been beaten or otherwise seriously injured.

Deputies were unsuccessful in their search of Cane River for her blue 1985 Buick. Shortly after 4:00 pm, it was found abandoned on Breda Street near the Bayou Jacko Club in Natchitoches. Investigators considered the 6-7 mile separation between Rosalind and her vehicle suspicious.

An autopsy performed by Caddo Parish Coroner and forensic pathologist Dr. George McCormick II described Rosalind’s death as a probable drowning and revealed bruising beneath the skin on the right side of her neck, jaw and temple. Investigators considered whether she had been involved in an altercation, knocked unconscious and then placed or thrown into the river. They also acknowledged that the bruising could have occurred when she struck the water. The uncertainty surrounding the injuries and exact cause of death complicated the investigation, but Rosalind’s death was treated as a homicide.

NPSO later described the cause of death as possible drowning and noted minor facial trauma suggesting Rosalind had recently been involved in an altercation. Investigators believed she may have been struck hard enough to render her unconscious before being placed in the river. NPSO detectives, assisted by Natchitoches Police detectives, interviewed family members, friends and others while trying to determine what happened to her.

In 07/2021, NPSO disclosed that new information had come to light after Rosalind’s case had remained open for 33 years with few leads. Detectives began reviewing the case again, but no additional details about the new information were released.

Suspects/Persons of Interest

No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified.

Timeline

Limited Information – Can You Help?

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Research Notes

This profile will be updated as pending public records requests are received.

Sources

• The Natchitoches Times, “Readers Get Certificates,” 09/12/1974.
• The Times (Shreveport), “Officer’s daughter found,” 09/16/1988.
• The Town Talk, “Cane River homicide possible,” 09/20/1988
• The Town Talk, “Death probe remains on hold in Natchitoches,” 09/21/1988.
• The Times (Shreveport), “Police continue probe into Meziere’s death,” 10/23/88.
• U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, “The Case of Rosalind Meziere,” 07/28/2021.
• NBC News, Dateline Cold Case Spotlight, “1988 Louisiana death of Rosalind Meziere remains unsolved 36 years after her body was found in the Cane River,” 09/15/2024.
• Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Facebook post, “Cold Cases Being Reviewed by NPSO Detectives for New Leads: The Case of Rosalind Meziere,” 07/28/2021.

rev 08/22/26