Avoyelles man kills 7-year-old daughter, himself

An Effie man shot his 7-year-old daughter to death and then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide, authorities reported.

The victims were Ryan Recktenwald, 28, and Madeleine Recktenwald, 7, Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Doug Anderson said.

Their bodies were found Wednesday night in a field behind a residence where the Recktenwalds had been staying on La. Highway 1196 in Effie.

Investigators believe Ryan Recktenwald shot his daughter Madeline three times with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, killing her, and then shot himself once in the chest.

The man and girl were pronounced dead at the scene by Avoyelles Parish Coroner Dr. L.J. Mayeux.

Funeral arrangements for the Recktenwalds are incomplete. They will be announced by Hixson Brothers of Marksville.

"The hopelessness and helplessness that people experience causing them to believe that their death is the only option is a tragedy," Anderson said.

"The loss of a life so young and the destruction of a family is devastating to all members of a community."

Friends said the Recktenwalds had been living with them for a while and that Ryan Recktenwald was depressed over personal issues. The Recktenwalds left the home earlier in the evening without notice, causing their friends to become concerned, the sheriff said in a news release.

"They later heard gunshots near the home, which caused them to search for the pair, subsequently finding them in a field near their home apparently deceased," the release said.

The Sheriff's Office was notified, and deputies responded about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly spelled Madeleine Recktenwald's first name.