Account
Aug 02, 2012
Jul 16, 2024
Keiosha
Felix
27
15
60 inches
120 lbs
Black / African American
Female
In the spring of 2012, fifteen-year-old Keiosha Marie Felix was a ward of the state of Louisiana, residing at Maison de Mere, a group home for pregnant and parenting teens. As a young mother to a one-year-old daughter, her life was navigating a complex path. On the weekend of April 28th, Keiosha was granted a pass to visit her paternal aunt, Patricia Andrus, in Duson, Louisiana. She was expected to return to the group home, but she never did. Keiosha was last seen on April 30, 2012, leaving her aunt's residence. In the initial days and weeks that followed, her absence was treated as a runaway case, a classification influenced by a previous short-lived runaway incident and a statement from her cousin, Portia Felix, who claimed to have heard from Keiosha. However, those close to Keiosha, particularly her maternal aunts, found this difficult to believe, asserting that she would never have willingly abandoned her beloved child. Their concerns were heightened by the knowledge that Keiosha had expressed discomfort about visiting her paternal aunt's home due to the presence of her aunt's boyfriend. As the weeks turned into months with no word from Keiosha, the narrative of a teenage runaway began to crumble, and a more sinister picture started to emerge. Her cell phone and social media accounts, once frequently used, fell silent. In July 2012, the investigation took a dramatic turn when authorities reclassified her case as a missing person. This shift was prompted by the discovery that her cousin had provided false information about being in contact with her. Subsequently, a series of arrests were made. Her aunt's boyfriend, Leon Wilkerson Jr., was charged with rape and second-degree kidnapping. Her aunt, Patricia Andrus, faced charges of improper supervision of a minor and accessory to rape, while her cousin, Portia Felix, was charged with obstruction of justice. The investigation further expanded in August with the arrest of Leon Wilkerson Jr.'s brother, Ronald Wilkerson, on a kidnapping charge. These arrests brought a flicker of hope for answers, suggesting a dark and complex situation within the very home where Keiosha was last seen. The initial momentum of the investigation, however, soon faltered and became mired in controversy. The Duson Police Department's handling of the case came under intense scrutiny, leading to the lead investigator, Lieutenant Gerald Credeur, being suspended and later terminated for alleged misconduct, including unlawful arrests and providing false testimony. In the wake of this upheaval, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office assumed control of the investigation in September 2012. A significant setback occurred when all charges against the four arrested individuals were dropped, with the district attorney citing the evidence as largely "unsubstantiated hearsay." The focus of the investigation has since shifted to finding Keiosha, with authorities exploring various leads, including the circulation of surveillance images of a man who purchased a SIM card that was later used with Keiosha's password, though he was not named a suspect. Possible sightings in areas such as Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and Houston have been reported but never confirmed. The FBI has offered a reward for information leading to her safe return. Years have passed, and the disappearance of Keiosha Felix remains an unsolved and troubling case, leaving her family and community with unanswered questions and an enduring sense of loss.
Apr 30, 2012
Duson
Louisiana
Lafayette Parish
70529
28264
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
Lafayette
Louisiana
Lafayette Parish
70501
316 West Main Street Lafayette, La. 70501, Louisiana
3372329211
County
Law Enforcement
12134982
2012-04-30
Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office
Brown
Brown
Brown
05/24/2026
