A tragic and heartbreaking event unfolded in Keithville, Louisiana, where a 60-year-old man took the lives of his wife, son, and granddaughter before taking his own life. The devastating incident has left the community in shock and the surviving family members searching for answers to understand what led to such a senseless act.
On May 5, Leroy Sadler opened fire inside his home, killing his wife Judy Sadler, 64, his son James Sadler, 29, and his two-year-old granddaughter, Adalynn Mae Sadler. After carrying out the horrific killings, Leroy turned the gun on himself, ending his own life. The gruesome discovery was made when deputies responded to a welfare check at the Sadler residence. Initially, Leroy refused to engage with the deputies, but moments later, gunshots were heard inside the home.
When law enforcement officers entered, they found the three victims and Leroy dead from gunshot wounds. The tragedy struck close to home for many, especially since it involved such a young child, leaving the community and family members struggling to come to terms with the unimaginable loss.
Adalynn’s mother, Kara Hanning, expressed her shock and confusion over the tragedy. She described Leroy as someone who loved his granddaughter deeply, making the violent act even more unfathomable. “I’m completely at a loss for words for that, because he loved that baby so much,” she shared. “He did love her, and I don’t know what caused this to happen or what he must have been going through. I feel terrible because I wish he had asked for help.”
Authorities are still investigating the reasons behind the murder-suicide, but so far, no clear motive has been revealed. Those close to the family describe Leroy as a man who had been struggling emotionally following the loss of his stepdaughter to cancer about six months earlier. The grief he experienced appears to have weighed heavily on him, though it remains unclear how this grief may have contributed to the tragedy.
Additionally, Kara mentioned that Judy Sadler had been battling an illness, though she did not specify the nature of her condition. The added stress of dealing with his wife’s illness alongside his own emotional struggles may have compounded Leroy’s state of mind, but this remains speculation as authorities continue to gather information.
The tragedy came to light when deputies were called to the home for a welfare check, though it is not known who made the initial call. Kara was at work during the time of the incident and began to suspect something was wrong when friends contacted her asking if she and Adalynn were okay due to something happening on her street. Adalynn was expected to be dropped off at a babysitter’s home that morning, but the babysitter said she had not seen the child. Attempts to contact both James and Leroy were unsuccessful, prompting Kara to leave work early and drive to the house herself.
Upon arriving, she was met by police officers who delivered the devastating news. “When I asked them if my baby girl was okay, they just looked at me with the most saddest expression,” she recalled, breaking down as she described the unbearable pain of losing her child. “I lost it, I did, because I don’t think anybody would want to lose their baby like that.”
Despite the horror of what Leroy did, Kara says she holds no hatred toward him. She hopes that the tragedy will highlight the importance of mental health awareness and encourage others to seek help before situations escalate to such a heartbreaking point. “I will never be able to hate him,” she said. “I forgive him for his actions. I wish it never happened, but I have no hate in my heart for that man.”
In the wake of Adalynn’s death, family and friends have rallied to support Kara. A GoFundMe campaign describes Adalynn as a beautiful, intelligent, and joyful little girl — “the brightest light in Kara’s life and truly the sweetest little girl you could ever meet.” Instead of spending Mother’s Day weekend with her daughter, Kara is now faced with the unimaginable task of laying her baby girl to rest, enduring a pain no parent should ever have to feel.
This tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact that grief, mental health struggles, and family crisis can have if left unaddressed, and the vital importance of seeking support before it is too late.
