In a quiet Kenner, Louisiana home, a devastating scene unfolded that would leave a family and a community reeling. On July 12, 2011, six-month-old Nyla Peters was found shot to death, bringing a tragic end to her short life. Nyla, a female infant, was discovered alongside her older sisters, 12-year-old Kayla Peters and 1-and-a-half-year-old Nayax Peters, and their 29-year-old mother, Nadia Braxton.
All four were found in a single bed in their house on East Louisiana State Drive.
The horrific discovery was made by the children's father and Braxton's companion, Ronald Peters, when he returned home from work in the evening. Finding the house unusually quiet, he went upstairs and found his entire family deceased. A gun was found at the foot of the bed.
Investigators from the Kenner Police Department quickly began to piece together the events that led to the four deaths. The evidence at the scene led them to believe that the incident was a murder-suicide. It was determined that Nadia Braxton had shot her three daughters before turning the gun on herself.
Further investigation into the family's circumstances revealed that they were under significant stress. The family was facing foreclosure on their home, and Braxton had reportedly been feeling hopeless and anxious about their situation. In the days leading up to the tragedy, she had reached out to a former pastor, expressing her feelings of despair. However, her partner was reportedly unaware of the extent of her depression. Police concluded that Braxton's growing depression was the catalyst for the tragic event, and the investigation was closed without any arrests as the sole suspect was also deceased.
