Ashes of Truth: The Unsolved Murder of Nanette Krentel

A Quiet Morning in Lacombe

On July 14, 2017, Nanette Krentel began her day in the serene setting of Lacombe, Louisiana. After preparing lunch for her husband, Steve Krentel—the then Fire Chief of St. Tammany Parish's Fire District 12—she drove to a local McDonald's for breakfast. Security footage and cell phone records confirm her return home around 9:11 a.m. Later, she made a call to a Kmart pharmacy at 10:03 a.m. to refill a prescription. Her last known communication was a phone call at approximately 1:30 p.m.

The Fire That Changed Everything

Around 2:30 p.m., a neighbor reported a fire at the Krentel residence. Firefighters, including Steve Krentel, responded to the blaze. Upon extinguishing the flames, they discovered Nanette's body in the master bedroom, severely burned and unrecognizable. The couple's pets also perished in the fire. Initial assessments suggested a tragic accident or possible suicide.

Uncovering a Homicide

Subsequent investigations revealed that the fire was deliberately set. Traces of accelerants were found throughout the home, and the surveillance equipment had been doused to prevent recording. Crucially, an autopsy determined that Nanette had been shot in the head before the fire, with no soot in her lungs, indicating she was already deceased when the fire began. This led to the reclassification of her death as a homicide.

A Troubled Marriage

Nanette and Steve Krentel's marriage faced challenges, including Steve's admitted affair with a subordinate. While Steve claimed they had reconciled, Nanette's family reported that she was considering leaving the relationship. Despite these issues, Steve was cleared as a suspect by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, supported by alibi evidence from surveillance footage and cell phone data. ...Read More

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