Additional Coverage:
An Indiana mother who had been missing in Mexico along with her seven children has been found dead, according to her family.
Hailey Lambert, a relative of Makala Pendley, shared that Mexican authorities informed the family of Pendley’s death on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, her children are reported to be safe.
Pendley’s cousin, Jami Dowdy, told Indianapolis’ NBC affiliate WTHR that Makala disappeared back in February. Despite months of searching, the family remains unsure how she ended up in Mexico.
In a phone interview, Lambert described Pendley’s relationship with the children’s father as “very, very, very toxic” and admitted she feared this tragic outcome. “It’s insane, but unfortunately, it just happens in domestic situations,” Lambert said.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that Pendley was located in Mexico last month. At that time, her children were briefly placed in the custody of Mexican authorities before being returned to her, though the reason for this remains unclear. The department has not been officially notified of Pendley’s death.
Dowdy revealed that the children’s father has been arrested in Mexico. Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca, the Chiapas state prosecutor, announced via a translated Facebook post that the suspect, identified as Pendley’s partner, is in custody. Efforts to contact the children’s father’s relatives were unsuccessful.
Llaven Abarca also stated that Pendley’s children “were located and rescued” and are currently “under protection of the authorities,” with arrangements underway involving the U.S. Embassy to ensure their care by family members.
Both local police and the prosecutor’s office have not responded to further requests for comment.
Christopher Lambert, Makala’s uncle, expressed his sorrow over the loss. “I hate to see anybody go through things that maybe they feel like they’re having to run away from, especially when they have kids involved,” he said.