Nationwide — Fannie Allred, an 81-year-old African American grandmother from St. Louis, Missouri, was found dead in her home after being stabbed by her grandson. She had recently survived stage 2 colon cancer and was a beloved matriarch in her community.
Her daughter discovered her body around 11 a.m. Sunday. According to KSDK, Allred had been stabbed six times in the head, neck, and chest. Her two French bulldogs, Willow and Ralo, were also injured but are expected to recover. Authorities quickly identified her 37-year-old grandson, Ronald Allred, as the suspect.
Police located Ronald after a tense pursuit that ended in a standoff at a gas station. SWAT officers used flash bangs and non-lethal bean bags to take him into custody. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to the stabbings. He now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, armed criminal action, animal abuse, and resisting arrest.
Family members described Ronald as calm and loving but cautioned about the dangers of untreated mental health and substance abuse. “The person that I knew would have never done anything like this. If you know anyone struggling from mental health or drug abuse, please help them because it’s very serious. I mean, you see what it did for my family,” said his sister, Ronye Allred.
Allred dedicated over 30 years to nursing at Northwest Rehab Center and was a cornerstone of her family and neighborhood. She lived in the same St. Louis County home for more than 20 years, hosting Sunday dinners and welcoming anyone who came through her door.
Her children remember her generosity and warmth. A widow since 2018, she had also endured the loss of a son to gun violence yet continued to open her home to family and neighbors. Marvin Allred, her son, called her “one of the most beautiful souls you would ever come in contact with,” noting that her open heart may have made her vulnerable.
Fannie Allred leaves behind her children and grandchildren, who now struggle to reconcile the love she gave with the violence that ended her life.