A 49-year-old woman was found dead in the kitchen of her home in Reading, Massachusetts, after allegedly being shot with a firearm. Her 22-year-old son has been arrested in connection with the incident.
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Andria Hanafin was found at around 12:38 a.m. on Thursday, when her husband, Matthew Hanafin, returned from work and called emergency services. Emergency crews arrived at the home, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities suspect the family’s eldest son, Ryan Hanafin, was behind the killing. After the incident, the 22-year-old left the home in his vehicle, a black 2010 Dodge Charger.
According to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, the couple’s 13-year-old son was also in the house. He told investigators that he had last seen his mother at around 5:00 p.m., before going out with friends. When he returned at around 9:00 p.m., he went straight to his room.
Massachusetts police began searching for Ryan Hanafin and alerted authorities in Vermont, as the young man was believed to be in the Warren area, around 270 kilometers from Reading.
At around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Vermont police located the vehicle and stopped the driver. Ryan Hanafin was arrested on a fugitive-from-justice charge. He was held without the possibility of bail and is expected to appear in court on Friday afternoon.
The district attorney said the young man had access to several legally owned firearms. His firearms license was suspended on Thursday morning. Authorities said he had no known prior contact with police and that no known mental health problems had been reported. The suspected motive for the killing remains unknown.
Andria Hanafin, who was the mother of three children, was described by family members and friends as a loving and generous woman, always willing to help others. At the time of the incident, her daughter was abroad pursuing university studies.
“It is impossible to describe the pain of losing someone so suddenly and tragically,” Heather Gagliardi, a family friend, wrote in an online fundraising campaign.
Gagliardi remembered the 49-year-old as a person with a heart of gold who cared for people and was always there for those in need. The investigation to fully establish the circumstances of the killing is ongoing.
