Miami, FL — Kameela Russell, a 41-year old high school teacher who was reported missing on May 15, has been found dead 10 days later. Her death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt head injury but police are still investigating to find out who the suspect is.
On the afternoon of May 25, a body was reportedly found in a canal in Miami Gardens. Police confirmed it was Russell’s body as it matches the same pair of gray leggings she was wearing on the day she disappeared. The canal where she was found was located near where she was last seen by her family.
According to reports, detectives served a search warrant last week on the home of one of Russell’s former colleagues, which is across the street from where her body was found. But her mother, Linda, believes he is not a suspect because she knew him since he was a child since he and her daughter grew up together.
Russell’s death was mourned by her colleagues who were “deeply saddened about the painful and shocking news involving the passing of a Miami Norland Senior High School teacher,” Daisy Gonzalez-Diego, a spokesperson for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, said in a statement.
Gonzalez-Diego added that grief counselors will be available to students and staff members at the school. She said “School district staff and Miami-Dade Schools Police will continue to work with the Miami Gardens Police Department, which has been handling this case since the employee’s disappearance from her home. The entire M-DCPS family is heartbroken. We ask that the community join us as we keep Kameela Russell’s loved ones in our prayers.”
Russell, a mother who had left behind 2 children, has also been well-loved by her students.
“She was a wonderful teacher,” student Zeniah Rolle told Local 10 News. “She always liked to smile and she always put positive energy in people’s lives.”
“She was a very nice lady. She was so giving and she was always nice to her students,” student Mormare Jones said. “She was a fun person to be around. I love Ms. Russell.”