A tragic incident unfolded in St. Louis, Missouri, where a 37-year-old man has been charged in the brutal stabbing death of his grandmother and the attack on her two dogs. The suspect, identified as Ronald Allred III, faces charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and two counts of animal abuse, both classified as misdemeanors. His initial court appearance took place this past Tuesday, bringing the chilling details of the crime into the public eye.

The grim discovery was made on Sunday when St. Louis County Police officers responded to an emergency call on Jenny Drive. A distraught woman, dialing 911, reported the horrifying scene she encountered upon finding her 81-year-old mother, Fannie Allred, lifeless and surrounded by blood on the floor. The police report, reviewed by Law&Crime, describes the elderly victim as having suffered six stab wounds to her head, neck, and chest.

In addition to the murder, the affidavit revealed that two French bulldogs present in the home had also been stabbed. Miraculously, the dogs are expected to recover from their injuries. The horrific nature of this crime has left a community in shock, grappling with the senseless violence that disrupted what should have been the safety of home.

The victim was found in her own home with “six stab wounds to her head, neck, and chest,” according to the document filed in St. Louis County court.

Authorities noted two French bulldogs at the scene were “also stabbed,” but they were expected to survive.

Police soon learned that Ronald Allred had “stayed at the victim”s residence the night prior” and that someone had seen him at her home “earlier that morning.” However, he was not at the house when officers arrived.

Investigators issued an alert for agencies to be on the lookout for the suspect and his pickup truck, local Fox affiliate KTVI reported. He was spotted at Calvary Cemetery — about a 12-minute drive away from the crime scene — and a police officer approached him in his vehicle. The marked police car pulled up next to Ronald Allred’s truck. As Ronald Allred allegedly reached toward his feet, the officer fired a shot, but it hit the officer’s own vehicle and the suspect sped away.

Later that day, Ronald Allred was spotted again — this time at a local gas station. He reportedly barricaded himself inside his truck, causing “a standoff in the city.” Police were able to take him into custody, where they also charged him with resisting arrest.

After police read the suspect his Miranda rights, he reportedly “confessed to the stabbing.” However, authorities have not revealed a suspected motive.

Fannie Allred is remembered by her loved ones as having been a matriarch of her family. As her family put it, she wasn’t just a leader, she was a survivor.

The 81-year-old woman had just defeated stage 2 colon cancer, according to St. Louis-based NBC affiliate KSDK.

“She was like the matriarch of the family, actually,” said her son, Ronald Allred Jr. “She’s been in her neighborhood 20-plus years so everybody on the block know her, they looked out for her. Walking to and from the store, ‘Hey Ms. Allred.’”

“One of the most beautiful souls that you would ever come in contact with,” Marvin Allred added of his mother. “It was nothing she wouldn’t do for you. This is like a dream/nightmare. Unfortunately, with her being so open-hearted, it cost her her life.”