In the early morning hours of January 11, 2019, a tragic event unfolded in a home on Bennie Lane in south Lake Charles, Louisiana, resulting in the death of 59-year-old Katherine Pendley. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office responded to a distressing call from a neighbor around 2 a.m. The neighbor reported that David M. Pendley, 52, had stabbed his 24-year-old son.
Upon their arrival, deputies found the injured son at the neighbor's residence, and he was promptly transported to a local
hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The son informed the deputies that two other individuals were still inside the Pendley home. Law enforcement's attempt to enter the house was initially hindered by a large dog, which they had to fatally shoot to gain access.
Once inside, they discovered the bodies of Katherine Pendley and her husband, David M. Pendley. The preliminary investigation led detectives to believe that the incident was a murder-suicide. It is thought that David Pendley stabbed his son, killed his wife, and then took his own life. The motive behind the violence was suspected to be a domestic issue. Detective Casey Lafargue was the lead investigator on the case.
