An Ohio resident, Kenneth Paul Farler III, has admitted to the fatal shooting of his 15-year-old daughter, Kendra Farler, and attempting to blame the incident on his nonverbal autistic stepson. The 39-year-old man pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, endangering children, and numerous firearm-related offenses due to previous felony convictions. His sentencing is scheduled for May 14.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of April 14, 2024, when Dayton police were called to a shooting at an apartment on Bowen Street. Upon arrival, first responders discovered Kendra Farler with a shotgun wound to her chest. In a 911 call, Farler initially claimed that his stepson had accidentally discharged the firearm.
However, Dayton police Maj. Brian Johns stated that subsequent investigations and interviews revealed Farler’s initial claims to be false. “The young lady was shot and killed by her father inside the Bowen Street address,” Johns said. “To say it was a tragedy is an understatement.”
Johns further emphasized that investigators believe the shooting was intentional. He revealed that the victim had pleaded with her father not to point the shotgun at her before her death, indicating that the incident was not accidental. A bystander’s 911 call also reported hearing a gunshot followed by cries of distress.
A neighbor, Nancy Ledbetter, expressed her shock at the incident. She recalled asking a woman at the scene about what had happened, only to be told that the woman’s granddaughter had been shot.
The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office indicted Farler about a week after the fatal incident. Prosecuting attorney Mat Heck pointed out that Farler had been convicted of trafficking in cocaine less than a month before the shooting. Heck also noted that Farler had been arrested approximately 40 times over the past 20 years and had previously been sentenced to prison.
In her obituary, Kendra was described as the “heart and soul” of her family, a joyful, curious, and creative spirit. “Her laughter was infectious, her energy boundless, and her kindness a beacon of warmth to everyone around her,” the obituary read.