Cara Franchaele Cardinal, a 42-year-old woman from Ore City, Texas, tragically lost her life on December 15, 2019. The incident occurred in the 6300 block of Periwinkle Road in Ore City, where she was found shot in the front yard of her residence. Her mother, Gay Coleman Wagner, 68, was also shot and sustained life-threatening injuries. The perpetrator, Bernard Fustonberg III, 60, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a truck as he attempted to flee the scene.
The authorities confirmed that all three individuals knew each other. The incident was classified as an attempted double murder-suicide. Autopsies were ordered for both Cara Franchaele Cardinal and Gay Coleman Wagner. The investigation revealed that the tragic event unfolded when a woman called 9-1-1, reporting that she and her adult daughter had been shot. Upon arrival, deputies found Cara Franchaele Cardinal deceased and her mother critically injured. Bernard Fustonberg III was found dead in the truck with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Cara Franchaele Cardinal was born on June 25, 1977, in Gladewater, Texas, and was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. She was preceded in death by her mother, Gay Wagner, her sister Daimy Newman , her brother Ryan Cardinal, and her nephew Keaton. The investigation into the incident concluded that it was a tragic case of domestic violence, with no further suspects or arrests made. The community mourned the loss of Cara Franchaele Cardinal and expressed their condolences to her surviving family members.
