Kelly Rees Pitts, 57, was shot to death on June 5, 2019, in a Tehachapi, California, neighborhood. He was found with multiple gunshot wounds after a confrontation with his ex-wife, Wendy Howard, which occurred shortly after Howard learned that Pitts had sexually abused her two daughters.

Howard was arrested and charged with murder. At trial the defense said she acted in self-defense and to protect her children; the prosecution argued Pitts should have faced legal consequences rather than being killed. The jury acquitted Howard of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, voluntary self-defense, and involuntary manslaughter, but deadlocked on a manslaughter by heat of passion charge.

The case drew attention for its connection to alleged long‑term abuse and raised questions about how allegations were handled before the shooting. Does anyone have information about the events leading up to June 5, 2019, or about the family’s efforts to report the abuse?