In the quiet neighborhood of Hanford, California, residents are grappling with shock and sadness after the body of an elderly woman was discovered wrapped in plastic inside a closet. The grim find came during a routine welfare check on May 18, 2024 when neighbors reported they had not seen the woman, identified as 67-year-old Peggi Yingling, in several weeks.
The welfare check, initiated by concerned neighbors, led Hanford police to Yingling’s home on West Encore Drive. Officers entered the residence and found her body locked inside a closet, partially decomposed, wrapped in plastic bags. Hanford Police Lieutenant Justin Vallin stated, “The body showed signs of decomposition and was encased in plastic bags, indicating to us that her death was not natural.” She had been dead for “an extended amount of time”, according to the authorities.
The discovery of Yingling’s body marked the beginning of an intense investigation. Police quickly identified Kelli Yingling, the deceased’s 37-year-old daughter, as a suspect. Kelli, who had been living in the same house, was already in custody at Kings County Jail following an unrelated police pursuit on May 2. During an interview with detectives, Kelli made statements implicating herself in the murder of her mother.
An autopsy conducted on Peggi Yingling revealed signs of strangulation, further supporting the suspicion of foul play. “An autopsy was performed today, and the coroner was able to determine there were signs of strangulation on the body,” said Lt. Vallin. The Hanford police are awaiting DNA confirmation to identify the victim officially, but all evidence points to Peggi Yingling.
Kelli Yingling has a history of legal troubles, including a conviction for elder abuse in 2023, also involving her mother. At the time of Peggi’s death, Kelli was on felony probation for elder abuse and criminal threats against her mother. Kings County District Attorney Sarah Hacker said in court “The defendant has been previously convicted of elder abuse and was on felony probation for elder abuse at the time that this offense occurred.”
Neighbors on Encore Drive expressed their shock and disbelief over the incident. Gabriel Virrueta, a neighborhood resident, described Peggi as “very introverted” but noted that she occasionally asked neighbors for help, such as rides to the store or doctor’s office. Virrueta expressed his concern when Peggi was found: “I was distraught because I didn’t know what had happened. When we learned she was found dead in a closet, my immediate thought was that someone had broken into the house.”
Despite the charges against her, Kelli Yingling’s attorney, Carlos Navarrete, maintains her innocence. He emphasized the importance of a thorough investigation, stating, “Very often when we get police reports, we start to see that things are not clear-cut as they made it to be; there are a lot of nuances, and people’s memories aren’t what they claim or were initially, so we need to investigate all that.”
As the investigation continues, Hanford police are not commenting on a possible motive. Kelli Yingling remains in custody without bail and awaits her next court appearance. She was charged on May 21 with first-degree murder and elder abuse. The community mourns the loss of Peggi Yingling, hoping for justice and clarity in the wake of this tragic event.
