On a summer night in Indianapolis, just one day before she would have celebrated her 36th birthday, Monica Pirtle’s life was tragically cut short. The 35-year-old mother of three had just returned home from a movie with the father of her youngest child on July 16, 2018. As they sat in a car outside her residence on Crabtree Court, an assailant opened fire, shattering the late-night quiet and the lives of a family. Pirtle was killed in the attack, while her companion was wounded but survived. Inside the home, her three daughters were waiting for their mother to return.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting left a family reeling and a community searching for answers. Pirtle’s loved ones were adamant that the vibrant artist, described as having a good soul and being the life of the party, was not the intended target of the violence. They could not fathom who would want to harm her. Her murder left a void, particularly for her three daughters who were left to navigate life without their mother. The family's grief was compounded by the fact that this was the second child Monica's mother had lost to gun violence.
In the years that have followed, Monica Pirtle's case has grown cold, her murder remaining unsolved with no arrests made and no suspects publicly identified. Her family has tirelessly advocated for justice, holding vigils and pleading with the public for any information that could lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. They have expressed frustration over the lack of progress and communication from law enforcement. Despite their pain, they continue to honor her memory, hoping that one day the person or people responsible for her death will be brought to justice and they will finally have the closure they desperately seek.
