Mary Faith Battaglia was 9 when she was shot and killed in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas, on May 2, 2001. She and her 6-year-old sister, Liberty Mae Battaglia, were killed by their estranged father, John David Battaglia Jr., in what has been described as an act of revenge against their mother, Mary Jean Pearle. Both girls were found in their father’s apartment with multiple gunshot wounds.

John Battaglia, then 46, had a history of domestic violence and had been separated from his wife for about two years. On the day of the killings he learned a warrant had been issued for violating a protective order, called his ex-wife and put Mary Faith on the phone; Mary Faith pleaded with him, No, daddy, please don’t, don’t do it, and gunshots were heard. Battaglia was arrested later that night at a tattoo parlor and charged with capital murder.

The case prompted extensive legal proceedings and appeals about Battaglia’s mental competency. If anyone knew Mary Faith, Liberty Mae, or has information about the events of May 2, 2001, please come forward.