READING, MASS. (WHDH) – A 22-year-old man wanted in connection with the death of his mother in Reading was located and taken into custody in Vermont Thursday afternoon, Reading police said.
Hours after Reading Police Chief David Clark identified Ryan Hanafin as a person of interest who should be considered armed and dangerous, he was arrested by Vermont State Police in connection with the death of his mother Andria Hanafin.
“At approximately 12:38 a.m. Reading Police received a 911 call that the body of a 49-year-old female had been located inside a Center Avenue home,” The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. “When police arrived on scene, they located the victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead on scene.”
Police said Andria was last seen at approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday evening by her 13-year-old son, who went out, and returned to the home at approximately 9 p.m. before retreating to his room for the night. Andria’s daughter is away at college.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan and Clark confirmed the investigation was an apparent homicide. Ryan said they have not yet located the murder weapon.
— Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan releases details on murder investigation —
“It is shocking, it is tragic. This is obviously a situation of domestic violence, well, it’s alleged that it would be domestic violence at this point, although not the traditional domestic violence situation that we think of,” Ryan said. “We have two children now that have lost their mother, and another child who’s at least a person of interest at this point. So this is first and foremost a terrible tragedy.”
Ryan said Ryan Hanafin had a license to carry, but that license was revoked by Clark Thursday morning. He is being held as a fugitive from justice in Vermont, and the charges he may face in Massachusetts are being finalized.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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