DAYTON, OH – A man from Ohio has confessed to fatally shooting his teenage daughter and wrongfully implicating his autistic stepson in the crime, according to court records. Kenneth Paul Farler III, 39, admitted to charges including involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and child endangerment, along with various firearm-related charges due to his prior felony convictions. He will be sentenced on May 14.
Authorities were alerted on April 14, 2024, when they responded to a reported shooting at an apartment on Bowen Street in Dayton. Upon arrival, first responders found 15-year-old Kendra Farler suffering from a shotgun wound to the chest.
In an emergency call, Farler claimed that his stepson, who is nonverbal and has autism, accidentally discharged the weapon. He reportedly told the dispatcher, “My stepson, he’s autistic, he had no idea what he was doing.”
However, Dayton police officials, including Major Brian Johns, determined through further investigation that the allegations made by Farler held no veracity. “The young lady was shot and killed by her father inside the Bowen Street address,” Johns asserted, emphasizing that referring to the incident as a mere accident would be incorrect.
Johns detailed how investigators believe the act was deliberate. He mentioned that Kendra had implored her father not to point the shotgun at her moments before the shooting occurred.
Eyewitness accounts were also recorded in 911 calls, including one from a bystander who recounted hearing the gunshot and panic cries from the scene. “She’s a kid,” the bystander reportedly said, expressing his shock after hearing the gunfire and subsequent screams.
Nancy Ledbetter, a local resident, was taken aback by the incident as well, recounting how she learned from a neighbor about the tragic event involving the young girl.
The Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office moved swiftly, indicting Farler within a week of the incident. Prosecutor Mat Heck highlighted Farler’s recent conviction for cocaine trafficking and his extensive criminal history, which includes approximately 40 arrests over two decades. “This defendant should never be allowed anywhere near a firearm,” Heck firmly stated, stressing the need for a stringent prison sentence.
Kendra’s family remembered her fondly in her obituary, describing her as “our shining little star.” They reflected on her joyous spirit, curiosity, and warmth, noting how her laughter and kindness left an indelible mark on the lives she touched.