In the early morning hours of February 7, 1992, a 79-year-old woman was brutally murdered in the Charlotte, North Carolina, apartment where she’d lived for two decades. Viola Pendergrass — who neighbors called “ma” and was revered as the matriarch of her own sprawling family — was found stabbed to death in her bedroom. Her murder divided a once close-knit family and has stumped police for 30 years.
Episode Info
If you have any information about the February 7th, 1992 stabbing death of Viola Pendergrass in her Charlotte, North Carolina apartment, please contact Det. Ed Williams at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department at James.Williams@cmpd.org or call 704-336-8626. You can also call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Portrait of Viola Pendergrass who was 79 years old when she was found stabbed to death in her Charlotte, N.C. apartment on February 7th, 1992. Police said the attacker is also suspected of stealing $700 in cash from the elderly woman’s bedroom. Courtesy: Christopher Pendergrass
An undated portrait of Viola Pendergrass who was stabbed to death in the apartment where she’d lived for two decades. Courtesy: Christopher Pendergrass
Viola Pendergrass’ grandson, Christopher Pendergrass, shown in a portrait taken during his time in the U.S. Navy. He was just 19 and stationed in San Diego, California, when he received the news from his family about her murder. He’s since relocated back to North Carolina, raised a family of his own and remains one of his late grandmother’s most vocal advocates. Courtesy: Christopher Pendergrass
Viola Pendergrass, who is standing on the inside left and wearing a powder-blue dress, is shown in this family photo at a wedding in 1984. Courtesy: Christopher Pendergrass
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police empaneled a civilian review board comprising mostly former law enforcement officials to review Viola Pendergrass’ case in 2006. Shown above is a news story about the effort published on July 10, 2006, in The Charlotte Observer. Courtesy: The Charlotte Observer
Obituary for Viola Pendergrass published in The Charlotte Observer on February 11, 1992. Courtesy: The Charlotte Observer
News story about Viola Pendergrass’ murder published the following day, February 8, 1992, in The Charlotte Observer (1 of 2). Courtesy: The Charlotte Observer
News story about Viola Pendergrass’ murder published the following day, February 8, 1992, in The Charlotte Observer (2 of 2). Courtesy: The Charlotte Observer
Family members took out an ad in the May 13, 2001, edition of The Charlotte Observer to honor Viola Pendergrass, who was a mother to 11 grown children. Courtesy: The Charlotte Observer