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Indiana Man Accused Of Stalking, Mowing Down Ex-Girlfriend With His Car
Kyle Rigdon allegedly sent threatening texts and social media posts just one day before he allegedly hit Kayla Bowling with his car while she was on her bicycle, killing her.
An Indiana man has been arrested and charged with hitting his ex-girlfriend with his car after she made a series of stalking allegations against him.
Kyle Rigdon, 27, was arrested Friday on suspicion of his involvement in the June 1 hit-and-run death of Kayla Bowling, 29, according to the Indianapolis Metro Police Department. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office formally charged him with murder on Wednesday.
Officers say they responded to a call at around 11:00 a.m. on June 1 after Bowling was severely injured while riding her bicycle. Responders found her in a South Rural Street driveway with “trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle.”
According to NBC Indianapolis affiliate WTHR, Bowling was able to provide information about the suspected vehicle before being transferred to Eskenazi Hospital, where she died a short time later.
“IMPD Hit and Run Accident investigators responded to the scene and began their investigation,” police stated. “Preliminary information received from the scene led investigators to believe Kayla gave the plate number of the vehicle that hit her.”
Bowling reportedly gave this information to a neighbor who reported the hit-and-run, according to Fox Indianapolis affiliate WXIN.
Bowling’s father, Robert Bowling, told WTHR that his daughter had dated Rigdon until ending their relationship about one month before he allegedly killed her.
“She was afraid he was going to kill her,” said Mr. Bowling. “She says, ‘If I ever die, look at my phone. I got the evidence.’”
Court documents obtained by the Indianapolis outlet reveal some of these texts — including an alleged message from Rigdon to Bowling dated May 31 at 8:16 p.m., just hours before Bowling’s death.
“Have fun with your bullshi****n you got going on tonight,” Rigdon allegedly texted. “Tomorrow will be the biggest wake-up call of your life.”
That same day, Rigdon allegedly posted on Facebook, saying that someone “had broken his heart but that they were going to pay,” according to court documents.
Robert Bowling told reporters that he'd informed authorities when Rigdon alleged showed up at Bowling’s house with a knife — just two days before Bowling’s death, according to WTHR. Rigdon allegedly slashed the victim’s tires at that point.
“I went back in the house to get my gun. I came back out, and he was gone,” said the victim’s father. “I called 911, [but] nobody ever showed up. Nobody.”
Court documents state that Bowling’s mother also told authorities that Rigdon “was going to kill” her daughter.
Bowling’s parents also allege that Rigdon called the victim one day before her death and threatened her before arriving at her house. He ultimately left when Bowling threatened to call authorities.
“There’s nowhere she could go where he didn’t end up,” said Mr. Bowling.
Rigdon allegedly went to work at around noon the day of the hit-and-run which killing Bowling — which occurred around 11:00 a.m. — and asked a coworker to lie and say Rigdon had been on the job since 10:00 a.m, according to WXIN.
The following day, Rigdon allegedly visited his son and gave him $100, according to court records. The mother of Rigdon’s child reportedly took notice of the damage to the passenger’s side headlight of Rigdon’s car, providing photos to investigators.
Police stated Rigdon tried to evade capture when they began initiating a traffic stop on Friday, accusing the suspect of making sudden turns and avoiding red lights, according to WXIM.
Rigdon has had a series of complaints against him, including several restraining orders effectuated between 2015 and 2019, according to WTHR. In 2018, Rigdon pleaded guilty to domestic battery.
“I felt like I failed her,” said Mr. Bowling. “No parent should be burying their children. The children should be burying their parents.”
Rigdon is charged with murder and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, jail records show. He is expected to appear in court on June 29.
