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.