On April 25, 2025, 75-year-old Karen Pautler was found dead in her Frontier Trail home in Fenton, Missouri, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound. Jefferson County deputies were summoned that afternoon after a family member called 911. They were admitted into the house by Karen’s 73-year-old husband, Kenneth Pautler, who led them to a bedroom where her body was located.

Kenneth Pautler was taken into custody at the scene and, after waiving his Miranda rights, told investigators he had shot his wife. He said he had been caring for her amid mental health problems, had become exhausted, and did not want her placed in a nursing home; he described choosing a cartridge and aiming to make the shot quick. He was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action and booked into the Jefferson County Jail without bond. The investigation is ongoing.

If anyone knew Karen or has information about her care or what happened at the Frontier Trail residence, please share details with investigators.