Lonetta White Gravesite

Lonetta's father was William Penman, 1896-1962, and her mother was Alma (Meaux) Penman, 1903-1968. She had siblings Mary Blanche Penman, 1928-2008, Eloise, Alma, Mayme, George, and Calvin who survived her. Lonetta married George White, who predeceased her, and had son Steven R White and stepson, Ronald White. In the 1930 census, Lonetta (spelled Lanetta in the census) was age 5, living in Boyle KY with her parents Will, 34, Alma 28, and her siblings James, 9, William 7, Roy 3, and Mary 2. Father Will was a laborer on a farm. In the 1940 census, Lonetta (spelled Lauratta!) was 15, attending school (1st year of high school), still living in Boyle KY with her parents, and with siblings James, William, Ray, Mary, Elsie, 10, Ernestine, 9, Alice 6, George, 5, Dorothy,4, and Geoffrey, 2. Father Will was still a laborer on a farm and brother James was a "house boy" on a farm. Lonetta was bludgeoned to death in her home in Lexington KY during the early morning hours of March 15, 1998. Her body was found in the trunk of her burning automobile in a field several miles away.   Her home was ransacked and numerous items of personal property, including two guns, jewelry, and a mink coat were stolen.   Appellants Caudill and Goforth admitted they were present at the commission of all of these crimes.   Each, however, accused the other of murdering and robbing the victim and of setting fire to the automobile. Both were convicted and sentenced to death for Lonetta's murder. (You can read a transcript of the appeal below). The convictions were upheld. The case was featured on "Deadly Women" on the ID channel because Virginia Caudill was the only woman on death row in Kentucky and because of the brutality of Lonetta's murder.