A heartbreaking discovery has brought a devastating end to the search for 30-year-old Makala Pendley from Indianapolis, Indiana. After being reported missing alongside her seven children in February, Pendley was found dead near the town of Zinacantán in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Family members confirmed her identity and revealed that she was also pregnant at the time of her death.
According to authorities, Makala suffered blunt-force trauma to the head, with officials determining that the cause of death was a traumatic brain injury. Her family shared that she was found nude in a ditch, adding another painful detail to an already tragic case.
In the midst of this unimaginable loss, there is one piece of relief: all seven of her children were located alive in Mexico and are reportedly safe. They have since been placed into the custody of Mexican authorities.
Investigators believe Makala had been dead for between eight and twelve hours before her body was discovered. The Chiapas State Prosecutor’s Office says an active investigation is underway, and officials have vowed that there will be “zero impunity” in cases involving violence against women.
Family members have also stated that Joseph Jude Butler Jr., the father of Pendley’s children, has reportedly been taken into custody by Mexican police as the investigation continues.
As loved ones mourn the loss of Makala Pendley, many are hoping justice will be served and that her children will receive the care and support they need after this devastating tragedy. 
