Woman says social media model 'destroyed' family by killing brother in Miami car crash

MIAMI – You could feel the pain through the screen Friday as Silvia Molina Cruz spoke to Local 10 News from Nicaragua.

She never got to say goodbye to her brother Abraham Ismael. He and his friend died in an accident on August 10. Miami police said a speeding social media model had called her a time traveler who was under the influence of a party drug called “pink cocaine.”

“My heart breaks because I couldn’t say goodbye,” Molina Cruz said.

Ismael was on his way to work that morning with his fiancée Juanita Hernandez and his friend Jesus Rubio.

According to police, Maecee Marie Lathers, 24, of Miami Gardens, was at “100% acceleration” and driving nearly 80 miles per hour on North Miami Avenue when she ran a red light at Eighth Street and collided with a black Range Rover, which in turn crashed into Ismael's car.

Ismael and Rubio later died, while Hernandez escaped alive but seriously injured. Ismael leaves behind a 16-year-old.

According to police, passersby had to stop Lathers from leaving the scene, and she later told police she was high on “tusi,” a party drug also known as “pink cocaine.”

Tusi, or 2C, is described as a “new blend of ketamine,” also known as “pink cocaine,” in a 2023 medical journal article. That same year, Local 10 News published a special report on the “nightclub narcotic,” which was then considered the most commonly seized drug at Miami International Airport.

According to authorities, Lathers also claimed that she had a “crystal ball” and was “from the future.”

Molina Cruz sent a clear message to the model, who faces numerous charges, including two counts of vehicular manslaughter.

“They took away part of our lives. They destroyed (our) family,” Molina Cruz said. “They took away the only love we have. They destroyed (our) family.”

Ismael's family is trying to raise money for his funeral. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help with final expenses.

Lathers is scheduled to go to trial on September 3. Prosecutors have said the upstate New York native will likely face a DUI manslaughter charge pending the results of a toxicology test.