Tragic Incident in Louisiana’s Custody Battle
A young hairdresser, Meridian Thomas Woodson, was reportedly killed by her ex-husband in an apparent murder-suicide linked to a contentious custody dispute over their children. This tragic event took place in Elmwood, Louisiana, where police found the 28-year-old mother dead in her apartment after responding to reports of a disturbance.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office later located a vehicle tied to the incident in a nearby parking lot, where they discovered Cody Woodson, 30, Meridian’s ex-husband, suffering from what seemed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Unfortunately, he was rushed to the hospital but did not survive his injuries.
The couple had been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle for custody of their two children, ages 4 and 7, and had a hearing scheduled for June 18. Court records reveal that Meridian had previously accused Cody of abuse, including threats involving a gun.
Meridian alleged that following her request for a divorce in January 2024, Cody became physically violent. Incidents mentioned in court documents included a time when he allegedly snatched her phone during an argument and another occasion when she heard gunshots before discovering him with a firearm in the apartment.
During a separate altercation, Cody reportedly told Meridian, “You’re hurting me, you’re always hurting me.” In his filings, Cody denied many of the allegations and claimed that Meridian had exhibited violent behavior as well, stating that she had choked and bitten him during confrontations.
Furthermore, he pointed to a specific incident in February 2024 when Meridian was arrested after a violent dispute in front of their children. Meridian claimed she acted in self-defense and maintained that Cody’s evidence was misconstrued.
In memory of Meridian, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist her young children. The fundraiser emphasizes her caring nature, describing her as “the light of everyone’s life” and a “second mother” to her 23 siblings.
The investigation surrounding this heartbreaking case is ongoing, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
