Naked woman found stabbed to death in home with 4 young children on Detroit's west side

Children's ages range from 8 months to 5 years old; woman also pregnant

DETROIT – Police discovered four young children and the naked body of a pregnant woman who was stabbed to death at a vacant home Detroit's west side.

The discovery was made Thursday at a vacant house in the 15000 block of Braile Street. Police said they found the woman dead with multiple stab wounds.

"The little boy said, 'My daddy hit her across the head with the broom and he stabbed her,'" the neighbor who found the woman's body said.

Candles sit on the porch where La'Diamond Meyers was found murdered. The 23-year-old mother of four was also expecting her fifth child.

"She was five months pregnant. You didn't only take hers, you took another life as well as her," said Meyers' sister, Sheila Calvin.

Calvin said Meyers cared deeply for her children.

"You took my sister, someone who we'll never see again, someone who her kids won't see. It's about how her kids are going to feel now," Calvin said.

Family members said Meyers moved into an abandoned house off Evergreen Road and Braile Street with her children a month ago, adding she was in troubled relationship and was kept from them.

Detroit police said four children were inside the home when their mother was stabbed repeatedly in the chest.

"I went in there and she was lying on the bed with no clothes on," the neighbor said.

The neighbor who discovered the body said she became suspicious when the oldest child came outside looking for help.

"The little girl was riding a scooter," she said. "I said, 'Where is your mom and dad?' She said, 'Mom is sleeping and dad's at work.'"

Police believe the children were in the home with their mother's body for a few hours.

"I feel really sad for the kids because they didn't have a chance," neighbor Michael Brown said.

"Everybody out here probably wishes they had a chance to do something about it before it came to that," Jenkins said.

Neighbors said they often saw the woman outside with her children. While she kept to herself, they said it was clear she loved her children.

"She was always out with the kids, playing with the kids and doing the best that she could," Jenkins said. "No one would have ever thought that something tragic like this would have happened."

Neighbors said they thought the children's father was controlling.

Detroit police said the children are with a family member.

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About the Authors

Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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