Makala Pendley Murder Shocks Mexico and US; Family Says She Was Six Months Pregnant

Zinacantán, Chiapas — The murder of U.S. citizen Makala Marie Pendley has sparked outrage in both Mexico and the United States after her family revealed she was approximately six months pregnant at the time of her death.

Pendley, 30, was found dead on June 8 in a remote area of Zinacantán municipality. State authorities confirmed she had signs of violence.

According to the Chiapas State Prosecutor’s Office, an autopsy determined the cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the head. The case is being investigated as a femicide.

Sister Says Victim Was Pregnant

After the discovery, Pendley’s sister, Maurica Michelle Lambert, posted on social media that the victim was six months pregnant.

“My sister was found murdered in Mexico, pregnant, stabbed and raped,” she wrote.

Lambert said the news has devastated the family, which includes their mother, a brother, and another sister. They are seeking help with legal and funeral expenses, as well as custody proceedings for Pendley’s seven children.

Mexican authorities have not officially confirmed the pregnancy, but the statement has drawn strong public reaction in both countries.

Suspect Arrested

The Chiapas Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrest of Joseph “N,” Pendley’s ex-partner and the main suspect.

Authorities said the man has a criminal record in the United States for assault, robbery, fraud, illegal weapons possession, threats of physical violence, and rape. He also had an active arrest warrant in Alaska.

State prosecutor Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca confirmed the suspect will be brought before a judge and said prosecutors will seek the maximum penalty allowed by law.

Previous Disappearance of Children

Pendley’s name had previously made headlines in Mexico in August 2025, when she reported her seven children missing in Yucatán. She accused her then-partner of taking them after a family dispute in the port of Chelem, Progreso municipality.

The Yucatán State Prosecutor’s Office issued search alerts for the minors. Days later, authorities found the children at a home in the Solana de Tixcacal neighborhood south of Mérida, where they were in the care of relatives. The situation led to legal proceedings and protective measures for the children.

In February 2026, Pendley and her children were reported missing by U.S. authorities, triggering an international search.

Children Found Alive

After the femicide, Chiapas authorities located Pendley’s seven children at a home in the Barrio de Fátima neighborhood of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. The minors, aged one to 12, were placed under institutional protection while diplomatic procedures are carried out with the U.S. Embassy. They are identified as Nicola, Joseph, Aubrielle, Orion, Earthum, Polaris, and Azrael.

Relatives said they hope the children will return to the United States and be placed in the care of close family members.

Investigation Ongoing

The Chiapas Prosecutor’s Office is pursuing multiple lines of investigation to clarify the circumstances of Pendley’s death. The case continues to draw international attention due to the violence against the victim, the involvement of seven children, and the history of family conflicts documented in both Mexico and the United States.