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By Joshua Rhett Miller
Senior Reporter
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A former middle school secretary accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy remains on the run, police in Colorado said Thursday.
Brenda Meza, a 34-year-old former secretary at Franklin Middle School in Greeley, is being sought on felony counts following reports of a sexual assault involving a staff member from Greeley-Evans School District and a student, the Greeley Police Department announced last week.
"As a result of the investigation, Brenda Meza is currently wanted on several felony charges," department officials said on March 12. "Attempts to contact Meza have been unsuccessful."
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Meza, who allegedly abused the eighth grade boy for several months, was not in custody as of early Thursday, Greeley Police Department spokeswoman Kristen Duus confirmed to Newsweek.
"Investigators are currently processing leads that place her both within Colorado and out of state," Duus told Newsweek. "We are actively pursuing every tip to verify her current location and ensure all viable avenues are exhausted."
The former secretary and substitute teacher allegedly told the boy she felt like she knew him in another life, which he considered "corny," an arrest affidavit obtained by the New York Post states.
She allegedly confessed to grooming the boy after he reached out to her on Instagram, where they traded nude photos, according to the affidavit. Meza also admitted meeting the boy in January at a Walmart parking lot, where they drank alcohol and consumed marijuana edibles, police said.
School district officials did not immediately return Newsweek's request for comment, but administrators reportedly informed parents that Meza was no longer employed by the district as of February 25, People reported. She had been placed on leave on February 12 when police initially learned of the alleged assaults.
The letter obtained by People stated that Maza had been employed by the Greeley-Evans School District since 2020 and had held several roles, including secretary, cross-country coach, and substitute teacher.
Meza allegedly confessed to her husband that she had interactions with the teen while she was inebriated after being confronted by school officials. He then contacted police, according to the affidavit.
Anyone with information regarding Meza's whereabouts is urged to contact the Greeley Police Department at (970) 502-2186.
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