Mekenda Saunders, a 75-year-old woman from Wyncote, PA, tragically lost her life on July 25, 2020. She was found dead inside her home along with her daughter, 41-year-old Latiya Clea. Both victims were shot by Frederick Clea, the husband of Latiya and son-in-law of Mekenda. Clea admitted to the killings, stating that the incident occurred during an argument over a misplaced magazine for his handgun.
Following the incident, Frederick Clea was arrested and charged with two counts of
first-degree murder. An autopsy revealed that Latiya Clea suffered five gunshot wounds, while Mekenda Saunders was shot once in the chest. Clea was later found guilty of the murders and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison.
The case highlighted a history of domestic incidents involving the Clea family, with Cheltenham police having responded to the home on two previous occasions in December 2017 and December 2019. Despite the tragic loss, the couple's two children, aged 5 and 10, were unharmed during the incident.
The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced the murder charges against Clea, and he was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. The court proceedings concluded with Clea receiving two life sentences without the possibility of parole.
This case underscores the devastating impact of domestic violence and the importance of addressing such issues to prevent future tragedies.
