Kathleen "K.K." Connally Hale, aged 16, tragically died on April 28, 1959, in Tallahassee, Florida. Kathleen was the daughter of John Connally, who later became the Governor of Texas, and Idanell "Nellie" Brill Connally. She was a student at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas, when she became pregnant and eloped with Robert Hale to Ardmore, Oklahoma.
The couple married on March 16, 1959, and moved to Tallahassee, where they had been living for just 44 days before her untimely death.
The circumstances surrounding Kathleen's death were both tragic and controversial. She was found dead from a gunshot wound caused by the accidental discharge of a 20-gauge shotgun. According to reports, Robert Hale claimed that Kathleen had been in good spirits the night before her death but had left their apartment suddenly, only to return late the next morning. Hale stated that when he returned from searching for her, he found Kathleen seated on the couch holding the shotgun. He attempted to persuade her to put the weapon down, but in a desperate moment, he lunged at the gun, causing it to discharge. The shot entered behind Kathleen's right ear, leading to her immediate death.
The investigation into Kathleen's death involved a Coroner's Jury, which ultimately cleared Robert Hale of any wrongdoing. The jury concluded that Kathleen's death was the result of an accidental discharge of the shotgun. A fingerprint expert testified that no recognizable prints of Robert's were found on the gun, although a palm print that could have been Kathleen's was identified. Detective Bob Maige supported the accidental death theory, noting that a minor squabble between the young couple had preceded the shooting.
Despite the jury's findings, the case remained a topic of discussion and speculation. Some questioned the circumstances of the shooting and the dynamics of Kathleen and Robert's relationship. However, no further legal actions or litigations were pursued following the jury's decision. Kathleen's death was officially ruled an accident, and she was laid to rest in the family plot at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Worth, Texas.
