After spending over two decades as a school bus driver, Peggy Pettis was eagerly anticipating her retirement. The 64-year-old, residing in Cheney, Washington with her husband David Pettis, cherished her gardening hobby, despite the challenges posed by the lingering pain from a past mishap.
In 2016, Peggy was attacked by a boar while tending to their family farm, resulting in a deep leg wound that caused her persistent discomfort and a noticeable limp. Managing the pain with hydrocodone, an opioid pain medication, Peggy relied on her husband’s assistance to cope with the effects.
Married for 33 years with an adult son and daughter, Peggy took pride in their long-lasting marriage, while David Pettis found himself drawn to an old childhood friend, Robin, during a visit to New York in November 2017. This encounter sparked a romantic interest, leading Pettis to express his desire to be with Robin and even envision a future together, indicating a shift in his focus away from his marriage.
Subsequently, Pettis engaged in continuous communication with Robin, claiming a lack of intimacy with Peggy and discussing plans for Robin to visit Cheney and their potential relocation to New York. Pettis’s social media post depicting him and Robin as a couple raised concerns among family members, hinting at a possible affair.
Tragedy struck on June 25, 2018, when Pettis contacted emergency services after finding Peggy unresponsive at home. Despite attempts at CPR, Peggy was pronounced dead later that evening, prompting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her sudden demise.
As inquiries progressed, Pettis’s behavior raised suspicions, particularly his persistent efforts to expedite the autopsy report and life insurance claim related to Peggy’s funeral expenses. Further revelations indicated that Pettis had manipulated the circumstances leading to Peggy’s death, as he confessed to deliberately mixing a lethal dose of hydrocodone into her food, ultimately causing her overdose.
Following a tumultuous legal process, Pettis faced trial for first-degree murder, with the prosecution highlighting financial motives and a desire to pursue a new life with Robin as key factors. Ultimately, Pettis was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison, concluding a tragic chapter marked by deception and betrayal within the Pettis family.
Throughout the ordeal, Peggy’s loved ones expressed profound grief and disbelief over the loss, emphasizing the irreplaceable void left by her untimely death. In sentencing Pettis, the judge condemned his callous actions, attributing Peggy’s demise to calculated planning and ruthless intentions, underscoring the severity of his crime and the devastating consequences of his selfish pursuits.