‘I’m sure it’s going to be a little rough’: Family speaks out after pregnant mother found dead in Mexico

Relatives of Makala Pendley say she disappeared with her seven children in February. The children are currently under the care of Mexican authorities.

An Indiana family is mourning after learning that a pregnant mother who had been missing for months was found dead in Mexico.

Jami Dowdy told 13News that her cousin, 30-year-old Makala Pendley, disappeared with her seven children in February. Dowdy said family members were notified on Tuesday, June 9, that Pendley had been found dead in Mexico.

Dowdy said she does not know how Pendley ended up in Mexico, but she described her cousin as a devoted mother who rarely spent time away from her children.

The family had spent months searching for answers, Dowdy said.

According to Dowdy, relatives were told Pendley may have been the victim of a violent crime. 13News has not independently confirmed the circumstances surrounding her death.

Dowdy also said the father of Pendley’s children has been arrested in Mexico. 13News is working to independently verify that information, as well.

Credit: Jami Dowdy
Family of Makala Pendley said they were notified June 9, 2026, that the mother of seven was found dead in Mexico.

Dowdy said there’s so much she misses about her cousin.

“Just her laughter. Everything about Makala,” Dowdy said. “Whenever you saw her, no matter what she was going through, her eyes lit up, and you really didn’t know she was going through whatever she was going through.”

Dowdy said Pendley’s seven children are currently in the care of authorities in Mexico. She said the family’s immediate focus is on bringing the children back to Indiana.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a little rough, but we’ll all come together, and they’ll definitely be taken care of,” Dowdy said. “The biggest thing right now, in this moment, is getting our children back over here where they belong with their family who loves them and is going to raise them.”

Credit: Jami Dowdy
Family of Makala Pendley (bottom) said they were notified June 9, 2026, that the mother of seven was found dead in Mexico.

Dowdy said she hopes others can learn from her cousin’s story.

“If you’re in an abusive relationship, get out, get help, go somewhere, somebody will help,” Dowdy said.

13News contacted the FBI to ask whether the agency is involved in the case. A spokesperson said the FBI is not involved.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said investigators were aware that Pendley and her children had been located in Mexico in May. In a statement, IMPD said, “Last month, Makala and the children were located in Mexico. The children were taken into custody by Mexican authorities, who later released them back to Makala. IMPD investigators have not been notified of the death of anyone in this case.”

“WE WARNED HER…” A relative of Makala Pendley has just issued a striking statement following Joseph Butler Jr.’s arrest, but what has many people clicking to read is his unacceptable MOTIVE

The grief-stricken family of Makala Pendley is speaking out with raw honesty in the wake of Joseph Jude Butler Jr.’s arrest for the murder of the 30-year-old Indianapolis mother. A close relative has come forward with a powerful statement that underscores years of concern for Pendley’s safety, declaring that loved ones had repeatedly tried to intervene in her turbulent relationship. Yet what continues to captivate and outrage the public is the emerging picture of Butler’s alleged motive, one rooted in control, fear of separation, and a pattern of behavior that many now view as utterly unacceptable in its brutality and selfishness.

Pendley vanished in late February 2026 along with her seven children and Butler, the father of all of them. More than 100 days later, her body was discovered in a remote ditch in Zinacantán, Chiapas, Mexico. The discovery on or around June 8, 2026, revealed a scene of horrific violence. Mexican authorities determined she had suffered blunt force trauma to the head resulting in traumatic brain injury, and family members were informed she had also been raped. Pendley was at least six months pregnant with her eighth child at the time of her death. Butler was quickly identified as the primary suspect and taken into custody by Mexican law enforcement.

In the days following the arrest, family members have begun to process the unimaginable while sharing more about the dynamics that led to this point. One relative, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the ongoing case, issued a striking statement that has resonated widely. “We warned her,” the relative said, reflecting on more than a decade of efforts to help Pendley see the dangers in her relationship with Butler. “We told her time and again that this wasn’t healthy, that the kids deserved better, that she deserved better. But love, or whatever kept her going back, made it so hard for her to walk away for good.” This sentiment echoes what Pendley’s sister Maurica Lambert has shared publicly about the “toxic” and on-and-off nature of the partnership that began when Pendley was just 16 years old.

The family’s warnings were not without basis. Court records and prior reports paint a picture of repeated challenges. Pendley had made multiple attempts to break free over 14 years, dealing with instances of alleged assault, vandalism reports to Indianapolis police, and ongoing paternity and custody-related legal matters. Despite these red flags, Pendley prioritized keeping her family together. In early 2026, amid fears that Indiana’s Department of Child Services might intervene and separate her from the children, she left with Butler and the kids for Mexico, hoping for a fresh start or at least a way to maintain their unity.

What has drawn intense public scrutiny is Butler’s alleged motive for the killing. Prosecutors in Chiapas, led by Jorge Luis Llaven Abarca, have described the case as femicide, seeking the maximum penalty of up to 100 years. Details emerging from the investigation suggest that the crime stemmed from a volatile confrontation, possibly triggered by Pendley’s desire to return to the United States or further separate from Butler. With an active arrest warrant out of Alaska and a criminal history that includes prior arrests for robbery, fraud, assault, rape, illegal possession of weapons, and intimidation, Butler’s background has fueled speculation that his actions were driven by a desperate need to maintain dominance over the family unit he felt slipping away.

Authorities noted that Pendley had previously accused Butler of assault during an earlier period when the family was in Mexico. This pattern of behavior allegedly escalated during their most recent travels. Some reports indicate that tensions boiled over when Pendley expressed hesitation or outright resistance to continuing life on the run, especially with seven young children and another on the way. The unacceptable nature of such a motive—ending the life of the mother of his children out of possessive rage or fear of losing control—has left many observers horrified and calling for swift justice. It represents not just a personal tragedy but a stark example of how domestic control can turn deadly when a victim tries to leave.

Lambert has been vocal about her shock and sorrow. She described learning of her sister’s death as “the worst day of my life,” feeling as if part of her had died too. Despite the history, she expressed disbelief that Butler could be responsible, saying it “never would have crossed my mind.” This mix of love for her sister and the complicated feelings toward the man who fathered her nieces and nephews highlights the painful complexities many families face in such situations. Cousin Jami Dowdy has also shared memories of Pendley’s dedication as a mother, noting how her eyes would light up around her children regardless of the circumstances.

The seven children—Nikola Jude Butler, 12; Joseph Jude Butler, 10; Aubrielle Oriana Butler, 8; Orion Jude Butler, 7; Earthum Jude Butler, 5; Polaris Jude Butler, 3; and Azrael Jude Butler, 1—were found safe in the San Cristóbal de Las Casas area of Chiapas. They have been placed in protective custody and are expected to be reunited with relatives in Indianapolis soon. The focus now is on their emotional recovery after witnessing upheaval, loss, and the trauma of their mother’s absence. Pendley’s unborn child also perished with her, compounding the family’s devastation.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist with repatriating Pendley’s remains, funeral costs, and supporting the children’s transition back to life in Indiana. Messages on the page emphasize Pendley’s identity as a loving mother above all else. “Makala was a mother before anything,” one update reads. Community members in Indianapolis and beyond have responded with donations, prayers, and offers of help, reflecting widespread empathy for the surviving family.

The location where Pendley’s body was found—a ditch along a dirt road in the rural Tzotzil Maya community of Zinacantán—has only deepened the horror. Discovered after reportedly lying there for just eight to 12 hours, the scene stood in stark contrast to the vibrant family life Pendley once tried to nurture in the Midwest. The isolation of the spot symbolizes the vulnerability she faced far from home, without the support networks that might have intervened earlier.

As legal proceedings move forward in Mexico, questions about the exact sequence of events remain. How did a trip meant to preserve the family end in such violence? What specific triggers led to the fatal confrontation? Butler’s criminal record and the active warrant add weight to the prosecution’s case, suggesting a man with a history of disregarding boundaries and laws. Family members hope that the process will bring some measure of accountability, though they acknowledge it cannot heal the profound loss.

This case has sparked broader conversations about domestic violence, the challenges faced by mothers in large families navigating unstable relationships, and the risks of cross-border situations without adequate safeguards. Advocates point to Pendley’s story as a tragic illustration of how attempts to escape abuse can sometimes lead to greater danger, especially when children are involved and systemic support feels insufficient. Her repeated efforts over 14 years to create stability for her kids, despite the warnings from loved ones, speak to her resilience and deep maternal instinct.

Pendley grew up in the Indianapolis area and built her life around her children from a young age. Relatives remember her as someone who rarely left their side, pouring her energy into raising them amid personal hardships. The decision to travel to Mexico appears to have been driven by immediate fears of child welfare intervention rather than any desire for adventure. In a region known for its cultural richness but also rural challenges, the family found themselves increasingly isolated.

Public reaction has been one of sorrow mixed with anger toward the circumstances that allowed this to happen. Social media platforms are filled with tributes to Pendley and calls for stronger protections for women and children in similar predicaments. Missing persons organizations that helped amplify alerts during the search phase continue to highlight the importance of community vigilance. News coverage from outlets like IndyStar, USA Today, and others has kept the story prominent, ensuring that Pendley’s memory and the needs of her children remain front and center.

In the statement from the relative, the pain of hindsight is palpable. “We warned her” carries the weight of missed opportunities and unheeded advice, yet it also underscores the difficulty of breaking cycles of toxicity, especially with young lives depending on the outcome. The family’s priority now is bringing the children home, honoring Pendley’s legacy through their care, and ensuring they receive the counseling and stability they need to process this trauma. Arrangements for Pendley’s body to return to Indiana for burial are underway, providing a place for loved ones to mourn in familiar surroundings.

Joseph Butler Jr.’s alleged motive—whether framed as jealousy, control, panic over potential separation, or something even darker—remains unacceptable to all who have followed the case. It strips away any justification and lays bare the devastating consequences of unchecked violence in intimate relationships. As prosecutors push for the harshest sentence, the hope is that this outcome will deter others and bring a small sense of justice to a family forever altered.

Makala Pendley’s story is one of love, struggle, and heartbreaking loss. From the warnings ignored amid complicated emotions to the final tragic act in a foreign land, it serves as a cautionary tale. Her seven children, now safe but forever changed, carry her spirit forward. The relative’s words, “We warned her,” will linger as a reminder of the importance of listening, supporting, and acting in the face of warning signs. In death, Pendley continues to spotlight issues that affect countless families, urging society to do better for mothers and children caught in cycles of harm. As the Butler children prepare for their return and the legal case unfolds, her memory endures as that of a devoted parent who fought fiercely for her family until the very end.