A young beautician has been fatally shot by her former husband in an apparent murder-suicide linked to a contentious custody battle over their young children.
Incident Details
Meridian Thomas Woodson, a 28-year-old mother, was discovered deceased inside her apartment in Elmwood, Louisiana, on Thursday after police responded to a disturbance, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.
Officers subsequently located the suspect vehicle in a nearby parking lot, where the victim's ex-husband, Kody Woodson, 30, was found suffering from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Custody Battle Background
The couple had been engaged in a protracted legal dispute over custody of their children, Paisley, 4, and Lileigh, 7. A court hearing was scheduled for June 18, as per court records obtained by WDSU.
Court documents reveal that Meridian had previously accused Kody of abuse and threatening her with a firearm. She alleged that Kody physically assaulted her after she expressed her desire for a divorce in January 2024.
In her divorce petition, Meridian wrote that Kody grabbed her phone, seized her by the arm, and threw her to the ground during a jealous rage. On another occasion, she reported hearing the distinctive sound of a gun being cocked before finding Kody with a firearm inside the apartment.
During a separate argument, Kody allegedly told Meridian, "You're making me hurt you, you always make me hurt you," according to the filing.
Counterclaims and Investigation
Kody denied many of the allegations and accused Meridian of violent behavior in his own court filing, citing incidents of choking, slapping, scratching, and biting. He referenced an arrest of Meridian on February 27, 2024, following a violent argument in front of their children. Meridian claimed self-defense and argued that evidence presented to police was taken out of context.
An online fundraiser described Meridian as "a light in everyone's life" and noted she was "a second mom to many of her 23 siblings."
The investigation remains ongoing, the sheriff's office stated.
