After nearly two decades as a fugitive, Leydis Menéndez Abdala, a Cuban national, has been sentenced this week for a fatal hit-and-run incident in Hialeah.
Menéndez Abdala, who was driving under the influence when she fatally struck Gloria Marcia Hall in 2006, received a five-year prison sentence, local media reported.
This Tuesday, Leydis Menéndez Abdala pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to five years in prison, along with a mandatory completion of a substance abuse program.
Her driving license has been permanently revoked.
A Fatal Accident That Shattered a Family
On August 12, 2006, Gloria Marcia Hall left her home in Hialeah at 4:00 a.m. heading to a religious retreat. As she drove her car and approached a traffic light on 68th Street, another vehicle ran the red light and violently crashed into her. Hall died instantly.
The driver responsible, Leydis Menéndez Abdala, was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital. Tests conducted shortly after confirmed she was driving with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit, leading to charges of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
However, before justice could be served, Abdala was tipped off by her then-partner, a Hialeah Police officer, alerting her of an impending blood sample test. Thus began her flight from the law.
19 Years of Evasion and Injustice
Menéndez Abdala escaped from the hospital and went on the run, allegedly aided by other officers, according to the prosecution.
"I hope any accomplices face justice," later stated Joaquín Freire, brother of the victim and Miami Police commander.
She was sought after for years, with her name occasionally resurfacing in media and police bulletins. In 2023, Freire posted a heartfelt message on social media remembering his sister as a loving friend, a beautiful sister, a spectacular daughter, and, above all, a devoted mother.
"My sister was killed... on her way to church for a retreat... To make matters worse, the young woman who took my sister's life is on the run and hasn't been seen for a month," he wrote.
Capture and Extradition from Mexico
In August 2025, U.S. authorities received game-changing news: Menéndez Abdala had been apprehended and would be extradited by Mexican authorities.
On August 29, she was placed in a Miami-Dade County jail at age 52, bringing the case back into the spotlight.
During her initial court appearance, the victim's brother was present. "I once told her at the cemetery that I would never stop until the day I found her, or she was found," he emotionally declared.
"This rekindles the pain this person has caused my family and me," he added.
For Gloria Hall's family, the sentence, though appearing small after the long wait, represents at least a turning point.
Beyond Abdala's individual accountability, the case exposed alleged misconduct within the Hialeah Police Department. The tip-off she received from her then-partner and the suspicion of other officers' involvement were never officially addressed.
The prosecution has not confirmed whether further investigations will be pursued.
Key Questions About the Hialeah Hit-and-Run Case
What charges did Leydis Menéndez Abdala face?
Leydis Menéndez Abdala faced charges of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter after the 2006 incident in Hialeah.
How was Leydis Menéndez Abdala captured?
She was captured by Mexican authorities in August 2025 and subsequently extradited to the United States.
What happened to Gloria Marcia Hall?
Gloria Marcia Hall was fatally struck by a car driven by Leydis Menéndez Abdala, who was under the influence of alcohol, in 2006.