Crime
Melanie Nadler Litt Found, but Husband Lesley Litt Says She Remains Unsafe and in a Mental Health Crisis
COBB COUNTY, GA — The search for 52-year-old Melanie Nadler Litt, who was reported missing earlier this week, has taken a troubling turn despite police announcing that she had been found safe.
According to the Cobb County Police Department, Melanie Litt was located and appeared unharmed, prompting authorities to cancel the BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert.
In a public statement, police reassured residents that “Melanie was not in any danger, and there is no indication of foul play.”
However, Melanie’s husband, Lesley Litt, has publicly disputed that assessment, stating that his wife is “not safe” and is in the midst of a severe mental health crisis.
Lesley Litt claims that Melanie is being manipulated and controlled by the man she was found with, describing the situation as one of psychological and possibly physical abuse.
Witnesses have corroborated seeing Melanie in distress.
One man, identified on social media as Billy Robertson, said he recognized her at a market — identifying her as his dentist — and confronted the man accompanying her.
According to Robertson, the man became aggressive and began shouting, after which he grabbed Melanie and quickly left the area.
In a post describing the encounter, Robertson wrote:
“I literally found the missing woman and chased the man. I confronted them, and she was so scared. When I asked if she was OK, the male grabbed her and took off with her. I gave chase. He tried to say her husband was after them.”
Lesley Litt has since confirmed that the individual seen with his wife has a history of domestic violence, including charges related to assaulting a previous partner.
He fears that Melanie, who he says is not thinking clearly, may be too afraid or disoriented to ask for help.
Melanie Litt was reported missing on Tuesday morning after failing to arrive for work at Family Dentistry at Seven Hills in Dallas, Georgia. She had worked the previous day at another office on Villa Rica Way in Marietta.
When police conducted a welfare check at her residence, they found her cell phone left behind, though her vehicle was missing. That vehicle was later discovered abandoned behind a business on Barrett Parkway.
A coworker reported last speaking with Melanie on the evening of October 12, when she had dinner with a friend. She was scheduled to leave the following Wednesday for a trip to Japan with her husband.
Lesley Litt stated that he was out of town visiting their son when his wife disappeared and immediately contacted authorities after learning she had not shown up for work.
Despite official statements, Melanie’s husband insists that she remains in danger and is not receiving proper care or protection.
He is urging anyone who encounters her to call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and to report her location to authorities immediately rather than allowing her to leave.
Lesley emphasized,
“The police do not know her. They did not do her justice and let them both walk away. She needs professional mental health intervention immediately.”
The case remains under review, and concern continues to grow among family, friends, and community members who fear that Melanie Litt may still be in harm’s way.
Orlando, Fla. — Family and friends of 33-year-old Julien Emmanuel Cruz are seeking answers and accountability following his fatal shooting outside a popular LGBTQ+ nightclub early Sunday morning.
According to the Orlando Police Department, officers responded at approximately 2:31 a.m. on February 22, 2026, to the 1900 block of North Orange Avenue, just north of Lake Ivanhoe, in reference to a reported shooting.
Upon arrival, officers located Cruz suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed Cruz was born May 18, 1992.
Detectives determined that prior to the shooting, Cruz and the suspect were involved in a verbal and physical altercation on the sidewalk outside the nightclub district. Investigators say that during the dispute, the suspect retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and shot Cruz.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle, which patrol officers later located in the 200 block of East New Hampshire Avenue, approximately two blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Police subsequently arrested 37-year-old Jean Gabriel Borja Gil De La Madr (DOB: October 29, 1988). He has been charged with Second Degree Murder with a Firearm. Authorities confirmed this case marks the third homicide in Orlando in 2026.
Cruz’s father, Anthony Cruz, said his son and his partner had been at Savoy Orlando enjoying the evening before the violence unfolded.
According to the family, as the couple exited the club after closing time, a vehicle sped past them. Cruz’s partner allegedly yelled toward the occupants of the vehicle, prompting the car to stop. A physical altercation then reportedly began between Cruz’s partner and one of the individuals from the vehicle.
“When they fought, my son saw that was happening. My son went to intervene, and when he intervened, another guy got out of the car, and he got shot,” Anthony Cruz said. “My son didn’t deserve what happened. All I have left is a shirt — a shirt with a bullet hole.”
While police have charged Borja Gil De La Madr, Cruz’s family maintains that another individual may have been directly responsible for pulling the trigger. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether additional suspects are being sought.
A small memorial has formed across from the nightclub, where members of the community have gathered to honor Cruz’s memory.
Joshua Cooper, owner of Savoy Orlando, said the tragedy has deeply impacted the LGBTQ+ community, even though the shooting occurred off the club’s property.
“I didn’t know the victim, but from everything I’ve been told, I wish I had,” Cooper said. “He seemed like a great kid. Seeing a family that is so heartbroken and so supportive of this community says so much.”
The Orlando Police Department has not released additional information regarding potential additional suspects. Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation and shooting.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline.
The investigation remains active.