CHIAPAS — Makala Pendley, a 30-year-old Indianapolis resident, was found deceased in a ditch in Chiapas, Mexico. She had been reported missing with her seven children on February 25 by a Department of Child Services case manager. Joseph Jude Butler Jr., the father of Pendley's children, was arrested in Mexico in connection with her death.
Pendley's body was discovered in a village in Chiapas on a Monday. She was six months pregnant at the time her body was found. State prosecutor Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca determined her death resulted from a traumatic brain injury secondary to blunt force trauma. Local officials informed Pendley's family that she had been raped and beaten prior to her death, according to a spokesperson. Jennifer Lambert, Pendley's sister, said, "My sister was found stabbed, raped, sodomized, naked, with her head bashed in." Pendley had been deceased for approximately eight to 12 hours before discovery.
Pendley's seven children were located in the San Cristóbal de las Casas neighborhood of Chiapas. Llaven Abarca said, "Pendley's children were located and rescued and are under protection of the authorities, while necessary arrangements are being made with the U.S. Embassy so that relatives can take care of them." Pendley's children are Nikola, 12; Joseph, 10; Aubrielle, 8; Orion, 7; Earthum, 5; Polaris, 3; and Azrael, 1. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Pendley had been located in Mexico approximately one month prior to her discovery.
Mexican authorities briefly took custody of Pendley's seven children before returning them to her. Prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 100 years for Butler. Butler had previously been detained on charges including robbery, fraud, assault, and rape, according to officials. Officials also indicated Butler had an active arrest warrant in Alaska. Pendley and Butler had an on-off relationship that began when Pendley was 16. Pendley had previously reported vandalism incidents to Indianapolis police.