The Murder of Kenneth Coyle

Stacie Mendoza met 70-year-old Vietnam vet Kenneth Coyle at the restaurant where she worked as a waitress. He frequented the restaurant, a kind, lonely soul seeking conversation and friendship with other patrons. He and Stacie formed a relationship that lasted about eight months. Coyle gave Stacie money whenever she asked and they often hung out together.

Stacie and her husband, Jose, were not satisfied with the small amounts of money Coyle gave to her. They decided to rob the man and put the plan into action on April 4th or April 5th, 2018. The couple drove to Coyle’s mobile home in Hanford, California. Once inside, the couple tied Coyle to a bed and began beating him with their fists and other objects until he provided them with his ATM cards and PIN numbers.

What Happened to Kenneth Coyle?

Coyle was beaten, tortured, and suffocated inside his home. Days later, Jose and Stacie returned to the mobile home in a U-Haul truck with their three children. They loaded Coyle’s body onto the U-Haul truck, then drove 60-miles to a canal in Madera County.

In front of the children, Jose and Stacie burned his body. The couple hoped the burned remains would appear as roadside garbage and no one would give it much thought.

The couple returned to Coyle’s mobile home several times, removing items during each visit. The couple also took his truck.

A Strange Phone Call

The following week, the manager at the mobile home park where Coyle lived received a very strange visit from a woman later identified as Stacie Mendoza asking for the deed to Coyle’s home, stating he had been in an accident and sent to a care facility in Northern California. The woman and a man had already taken Coyle’s truck and other items from the mobile home. The manager felt something suspicious about the woman.

She called the police, playing a pivotal role in solving the murder.

Police Find the Mendoza’s

Police tracked the Mendoza’s down using Coyle’s cell phone in a Denny’s located near the Los Angeles International Airport. The two had purchased tickets to El Salvador using Coyle’s stolen credit card. One of the credit cards was found in Jose Mendoza’s possession. They were taken into custody, charged with murder, burglary, torture, robbery, felonious elder abuse, and felonious child abuse.

Jose and Stephanie confessed to the murder. Stacie then led detectives to Coyle’s remains.

The couple’s three children also provided police with statements. The children were placed into the Department of Children’s Services custody.

An Air Force Veteran

Coyle was a Vietnam veteran who recently retired from his civilian contract position at Naval Air Station Lemoore. He didn't have children, but enjoyed making friends and was well-liked by everyone around him. He enjoyed sharing stories, and was a kind, caring person, his sister said.

Criminal History

Stacie had a criminal history that included convictions for crimes like fraud, embezzlement, and theft. Information about Jose’s criminal background is unavailable at this time.

Third Person Arrested

According to the Fresno Bee, a third person, 43-year-old April Struggles of Fresno, was charged with accessory to murder after she admitted to police that she helped the Mendoza’s clean up the horrific scene left inside Coyle’s mobile home after the couple tortured him.

Jose and Stacie remain in custody in a King’s County Jail awaiting trial. Additional information about April Struggles is unavailable.

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