Massachusetts Mother of Three Found Shot Dead in Kitchen as Police Arrest Her 22-Year-Old Son After Interstate Manhunt
Andria Hanafin was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound inside her home in Reading, Mass., just after midnight on Oct. 8, 2026.Credit: Facebook
A Massachusetts family’s life was shattered after a father returned home from work and discovered his wife dead in their kitchen, triggering an urgent police search for their missing adult son that ended nearly 170 miles away in Vermont.
Husband Makes Heartbreaking Discovery After Returning Home
Andria Hanafin, 49, was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound inside her family home in Reading, Massachusetts, shortly after midnight on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Her husband, Matthew Hanafin, made the devastating discovery when he arrived home from work and immediately called 911 at approximately 12:38 a.m. Emergency responders pronounced the mother of three dead at the scene. Investigators soon learned that the couple’s youngest son, 13, had been inside the house during the period when authorities believe the shooting occurred. According to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, the teenager last saw his mother alive at approximately 5 p.m. before leaving to spend time with friends. He returned around 9 p.m. and went directly to his bedroom, apparently unaware of what had happened elsewhere in the home.
Police Discover Adult Son Is Missing Along With His Car
As investigators began piecing together the family’s movements, attention turned to Andria’s 22-year-old son, Ryan Hanafin, who could not be located. His black 2010 Dodge Charger was also missing, prompting authorities to launch a search for both him and the vehicle as part of the homicide investigation. Prosecutors said there had been no known previous police contact involving the family before the fatal shooting. District Attorney Ryan also confirmed that Ryan Hanafin legally owned several firearms and possessed a license to carry, which authorities suspended following his mother’s death. Investigators had not publicly identified a possible motive, and officials said they were unaware of any documented mental health concerns involving the young man.
Interstate Manhunt Ends With Arrest in Vermont
Authorities learned that Ryan Hanafin had connections to Warren, Vermont, approximately 170 miles northwest of Reading. Massachusetts investigators alerted Vermont State Police on Thursday afternoon, asking officers to watch for the missing man and his distinctive Dodge Charger. At around 2:30 p.m., state troopers spotted the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, taking the 22-year-old into custody without a publicly reported confrontation. He was charged in Vermont with being a fugitive from justice in connection with the investigation into his mother’s suspected homicide. Police said he was being held without bail at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility pending a scheduled court appearance Friday afternoon. At the time of the report, authorities had not announced a Massachusetts murder charge against him.
Grieving Family Remembers a Mother Known for Her Kindness
As investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding Andria’s death, friends and loved ones struggled to comprehend the sudden loss. A family friend, Heather Gagliardi, established a GiveSendGo fundraiser and remembered Andria as an exceptionally caring woman who consistently put others before herself. She described a mother whose generosity extended beyond relatives and close friends to anyone who needed help, portraying her as someone who would readily sacrifice her own comfort to support another person. Police confirmed that Andria’s daughter was away attending college when the shooting occurred. Her death leaves a grieving husband, three children and a community searching for answers as the criminal investigation continues.


