THPD: Oswald was killed after shooting Pitts' face during break-in

Alice "Anita" Oswald's house where she shot an intruder in November before he allegedly killed her and set fire to the residence/ICN file photo

Diablos clubhouse when Pitts was shot March 2017/ICN file photo

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

​A Terre Haute man was apprehended by Las Vegas law enforcement last week at a campsite far from where local officials say he murdered an elderly woman.

​Kenny R. Pitts Jr., 55, was booked into the Clark County Jail in Navada May 25 on a Vigo County arrest warrant in connection to the death of Alice “Anita” Oswald, 77.  He is facing multiple charges, including: Murder, burglary, arson and altering the scene of a death.

The Clark County District Attorney's office confirmed that Pitts waived extradition May 30 and is expected to return to Indiana before July 1.

The six-month THPD investigation revealed that Pitts allegedly struck Oswald with an object causing her death during a burglary inside her home. She reportedly had fired a gun at his face when she found him and two other suspects (Megan Ray and Michael Holton)  inside her basement in early November. 

Pitts allegedly told one witness a short time later, “ That old bitch shot me.” The witness claimed Pitts “sold a bunch of stuff , changed his appearance and had a fake ID – all to get out of town," according to the probable cause affidavit filed by THPD Det. Starla Neidigh.

Pitts has a lengthy criminal record, including past drug, firearm and theft convictions.It should also be noted that Pitts was shot outside the Diablos Motorcycle clubhouse in March 2017. H was hospitalized for treatment at the time and several gang members were arrested. After Oswald shot him that night, he allegedly lied to friends and family that he was shot by two members of the gang again.

Kenny Pitts/ Prior book -in Vigo Co. Jail

Teresa Pitts/ Vigo Co. Jail

Alice "Anita" Oswald

Honda CRV similar to Oswald's

Timeline of events leading up to Pitts arrest in Las Vegas:

• Detectives believe the woman was killed on or around Nov. 9
• Oswald’s daughter notified the THPD about her mother’s disappearance Nov. 10 She was concerned her mother did not show up at a West Terre Haute animal shelter as expected. Oswald was last seen the afternoon of Nov. 9, leaving Harmony Haven shelter to visit a heating and cooling business on the city’s north side.
• ​She was to meet a technician at her rental house just after 4:30 p.m. and she never showed up.
• Oswald was described as in good health other than a heart condition which required medication. She did not pick up her prescription at a pharmacy located in the 2500 block of Wabash Avenue in November. Detectives were advised by Oswald’s daughter that she did not have a cell phone nor did she possess a bank card.
• Oswald’s residence at 2351 Second Avenue was set on fire Nov. 13. The Terre Haute Fire Department investigation determined an accelerant was used and ruled the fire arson.
• A suspect named in an earlier robbery at Oswald's property, Mike Harvey, was arrested in January 2017, while Pitts was charged with theft in the case. Oswald reported additional break-ins throughout the year. She reportedly told the detective she had a gun and “wasn’t afraid to use it.” She added that if she found someone in her house, she would shoot them, according to court documents.
• On Jan. 4, conservation officer divers recovered her SUV that had also been reported missing  -- with her body found inside the Maroon Honda CRV that had been submerged in a pond in eastern Vigo County. The conservation officers had contacted THPD regarding tracks found leading to the pond located at Tabortown Road and Moyer Drive. They worked two days to recover the vehicle due to icy conditions. Later police found a hatchet in the cargo area belonging to Oswald. A neighbor reported that Oswald had a sister, Sue Reel. The hatchet handle had "SREEL" marked on it. Pathologist Dr. Roland Kohr stated that the hatchet , or something similar to it, was the murder weapon.

• On Jan. 5, detectives spoke with one of several confidential sources. The source claimed that another suspect in the robbery when Oswald was killed, Kacey Phelps, had been a lookout in the incident. She told the source that police were looking for her and Kenny Pitts for “burglary and killing an old person.”

• On Jan. 9, Danielle "Dani" Galbraith, a former girlfriend of Kenny Pitts, reportedly told detectives “Kenny Pitts took a bullett to the left side of his face, and the bullet came out the neck area. She nursed the wound at Kenny's sister Teresa’s house and got antibiotics for him to take. According to Galbraith, Pitts lied and said the Diablos gang shot him (again.) She checked around and found it was not true.
• A pick-up truck owned by Kenny Pitts was located on N. 27th Street residence on Jan. 29. He reportedly gave it as a gift before leaving town. After obtaining a search warrant, detectives found a cat head ornament that witnesses would later confirm belonged to Oswald. They remembered it because it was missing an eye and recalled how she had it attached to a key chain. It reportedly had been given to her as a gift several years ago.
• On Feb. 26, Pitt’s son explained to detectives that he left work in Indianapolis after his dad called saying he was shot in November by the Diablos. He drove to Pitts' sister's house, where he was staying at the time. He admitted to helping Pitts sell a Jeep to "get out of town” because he was wanted by police.
• On March 8, Galbraith send a detective an email that included more knowledge of the incident. She talked about a black mask and other evidence she knew Kenny had left at Oswald’s house during the shooting incident before he set fire to the home. He reportedly was "frantic"about the stocking hat.
• Teresa Pitts, 42, Kenny’s sister, was arrested on a warrant in connection to Oswald's murder May 22 in Clay County and then transported to the Vigo County Jail. She remains held, charged with assisting a criminal and obstruction of justice. Following her arrest, a search warrant was executed at her 2713 N 12th St. residence .

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