A 76-year-old Pennsylvania man fatally shot his wife and and daughter amidst a heated argument that unfolded while he was cleaning his gun, police said.
Roger Hanks is facing a slew of charges, including murder, in connection with the killings of his 75-year-old wife, Judith, and 37-year-old daughter, Emily, the Chester County District Attorney announced Friday.
He was taken into custody on Thursday, after authorities discovered the bodies of both women inside their home in East Marlborough Township.
In a subsequent interview with police, Hanks claimed he was already cleaning his 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun when he began arguing with his wife around 3 p.m.
According to charging documents obtained by the Philadelphia Inquirer, Judith at one point told Hanks he “doesn’t do anything and just sits in his chair.” She also complained about how he refused to eat the food she prepared for him.
“If you keep up, this thing is going to go off on you,” he allegedly said in response, according to local ABC affiliate WPVI.
Hanks then pointed the gun at his wife and said he would “plug” her if she didn’t “shut up and leave him alone,” according to court documents.
He later told investigators he did not know the gun was loaded when he aimed at her. He also said he did not intentionally pull the trigger, claiming instead that it fired unexpectedly.
Judith was hit once in the chest, at which point her daughter ran at her father “with vengeance.” He shot her once in the chest as well, police said.
Hanks’ neighbor said he called her at 6:12 p.m. to admit what he had done, and that she immediately called 911.
Police found Hanks in his garage and his wife and daughter were pronounced dead on the scene. He was denied bail and is due back in court on May 9.
