Authorities announced they have located mom, 2 children

Published 3:00 pm Sunday, July 5, 2015

A couple of hours after announcing their search for a mother and two children, authorities said they have been found.

“We have located Ms. Luz Batista and her two children,” St. Charles Sheriff Greg Champagne said. “They are unharmed. Due to privacy issues, we will not be able to go into more detail. Thanks to everyone who provided information to us.”

St. Charles Parish authorities first said Luz Batista was last seen in the parking lot of the St. Charles School Board Office after the Fourth of July celebration at the West Bank Bridge Park on Friday at approximately 10:30 p.m.

Batista was with her two children — Diovnani and Dioni Benitez Jr. — sitting in her 2006 Blue Chrysler PT Cruiser.