Opelousas mother wants justice for daughter's unsolved murder
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- A mother is seeking justice for the unsolved murder of her daughter.
On Jan. 16, 2023, Kiare Vallian was shot six times in her car on Elementary Lane in Opelousas. Her murder remains unsolved over a year later.
"And I'm just asking that they don't close the case, that they don't forget about her," Holly Vallian, Kiare's mother, said. "I don't want her murder to go as another statistic because she was somebody."
The Opelousas Police Department is pursuing leads in the investigation, according to Chief of Police Graig LeBlanc.
"We understand the profound impact this tragedy has had on Kiara’s family and our community," LeBlanc said. "Our investigators are tirelessly working to uncover every possible lead. We are committed to finding those responsible and providing some measure of closure to the family."
Holly said Kiare's 9-year-old son kept his mother's iPhone to remind himself of what his mother looked like.
"And it breaks my heart because sometimes he comes and is like, 'Mawmaw Niki, I don't even know how my mama looks no more, how my mama sound no more,'" Holly said. "So he knows exactly what happened to her, but he is not understanding."
The Opelousas Police Department urges anyone with information related to this case to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or by visiting stlandrycrimestoppers.com.
Kiare's mom said only justice will give their family peace.
“And her killers — they’re here somewhere, and I know someone knows something.”