Indianapolis, IN
Son arrested in homicide of 81-year-old father in Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A man has been arrested and accused of killing his 81-year old father and injuring his father’s wife.
Police about 3:30 p.m. Thursday found John Pedigo and his wife inside their home in the 2100 block of South Catherwood Avenue. Police first went to the southeast side home for a welfare check. WISHTV.com first reported Thursday about the discovery.
Neighbors say what happened inside was horrific, and they want to know why it happened. People who knew Pedigo are grieving his loss, and praying for his wife.
Bob Kaylor, John’s friend and neighbor, said, of the gruesome scene, “Beat to a pulp. I mean, blistered, and my assumption was that Bryan probably thought she was dead, knew probably that John was passed, and decided to steal the truck and motor on down.”
Police arrested Bryan Pedigo, 54, for the homicide. Bryan was captured during a traffic stop as he was heading toward Greene County, which is about a 90-minute drive southwest of the home. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said Friday that Bryan’s jail booking photo was not yet being released.
Neighbor and long-time friend James Hicks said he’s known the couple for over 20 years, and said he and John would talk every day. “He was a heck of a guy. We all thought he was a good guy in the neighborhood. We called him ‘the governor’ because their home was the first home built in the neighborhood, and they had lived in it ever since.”
Hicks says John was a Vietnam War veteran and built florescent signs before retiring. Hicks said John had a heart attack a few years ago, and ever since then, the neighbors looked out for each other. “Honest, friendly, and loyal to his friends and family. He was that kind of guy.”
Kaylor said the homicide is something friends had feared for a while. Kaylor and Hicks say the couple had restraining orders against Bryan in the past, and that this was not his first attack against him.
Kaylor said, “How could this get through the ranks? How could does this slip through the system? You only have one life. If you don’t live it free and out of fear, you’re not going to make it, and the fear for them was their son.”
Hicks said, “We had always worried about this guy. I had had issues with him. Bob and I had had issues with their son Bryan.”
Kaylor said, “We all try to raise our kids to the best standards that we can. They did, too. Trust me, they did.”
According to Marion County public records, Bryan has a criminal history. Just this year, he’s been charged with domestic battery with prior convictions, public intoxication, possession of meth, and OWI. Records date back to the early 1990s.
Online records did not yet show a case Friday evening for Bryan following his most recent arrest.
Anyone with information on the case was asked to call IMPD Detective Daniel Hiatt at 317-327-3475 or e-mail the detective at daniel.hiatt@indy.gov.
ICYMI: Top 5 IndyStar business stories in May 2026
A busy month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reignited debates about hotels and the downtown heliport. Plus, Eli Lilly celebrated 150 years.
May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.
There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.
Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.
Openings
Monkee’s
8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March
Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.
The Nest Play Cafe
515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May
The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.
Forget Me Not Piercing Studio
5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27
A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.
Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square
1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May
Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.
Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closures
Vitality IV Bar
6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com
An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.
Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.
See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.
Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr
Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy
(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.
Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.
The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.
🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child
Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.
🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person
Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.
🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free
Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.
🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person
Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.
🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child
The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.
🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.
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