Woman, 24, found murdered near Mandeville walking trail; killer still at large
Lizeht Rodriguez, 24, was found dead near the Northlake Nature Center off U.S. 190 east of Mandeville. Authorities say she was likely killed within 90 minutes of arriving at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
St. Tammany Parish investigators seek killer of woman found dead at Northlake Nature Center
Lizeht Rodriguez, 24, was murdered near a popular walking trail just east of Mandeville on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, according to nola.com. St. Tammany Parish Interim Sheriff Bret Ibert confirmed the killing at a press conference on Friday, a day after the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's office formally declared her death a homicide.
Rodriguez arrived at the Northlake Nature Center off U.S. 190 at approximately 12:30 p.m. with her dog, driving a silver Honda Civic described as a late-2000s or early-2010s model. Her body was found lying among leaves near the trail at around 2 p.m. — roughly 90 minutes after she arrived, which investigators say is the likely window in which she was killed.
Ibert said deputies have not yet identified a suspect and declined to provide details about the condition of the body or whether a murder weapon has been recovered. When asked whether the killing could involve someone unknown to the victim, Ibert said, "We cannot rule out the possibility of the murder being (done by) a stranger to Lizeht."
Surveillance footage may prove difficult to obtain. Ibert stated there are "no cameras that we are aware of" on the trails themselves, and said investigators do not yet have information about cameras in the parking area.
Rodriguez's dog has been spotted by deputies in the area but has not yet been caught, Ibert added.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office is conducting the investigation in coordination with the FBI, Louisiana State Police and the district attorney's office. Ibert urged local residents to remain alert, travel with companions, and stay in public areas until a suspect is apprehended.
Authorities are asking anyone who noticed suspicious activity in the area on Wednesday between noon and 2 p.m. — near the Northlake Nature Center or along the walking trails leading to Pelican Park — to contact the sheriff's office at 985-898-2338.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)