TL;DR: A 49-year-old Massachusetts mother was found shot to death in her kitchen in the early hours of Oct. 8, 2026, and her 22-year-old son — described by police as “armed and dangerous” — was taken into custody later that day in Vermont. Ryan Hanafin remains a person of interest as of the latest reports, and authorities have not announced criminal charges against him.
Andria Hanafin, 49, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the kitchen of her home on Center Avenue in Reading, Massachusetts, at about 12:38 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Her husband, Matthew Hanafin, 48, discovered her body when he returned home from work, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The couple’s 13-year-old child was inside the home at the time she was found. The case was first reported by Fox News and People.
Police Called the Older Son “Armed and Dangerous”
Investigators named the couple’s older son, Ryan Hanafin, 22, as a person of interest in the killing. Police released a detailed description: 5 feet 10 inches tall, with shoulder-length straight blonde hair, a mustache and glasses. They said he was believed to be driving a black 2010 Dodge Charger with Massachusetts license plate 2PSY15.
Police also revealed that Ryan Hanafin’s firearms license had been suspended. They warned the public to consider him armed and dangerous and not to approach or confront him if spotted. He was last seen Wednesday evening and was believed to be heading in the direction of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, according to the district attorney’s office.
What the District Attorney Said
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, who led a news briefing on the case, said there was no significant history of police calls to the family’s home. Matthew Hanafin told investigators he had not spoken to his older son since Wednesday morning.
Ryan also underscored how rare such violence is in the community: Reading had gone more than 13 years without a homicide before Andria Hanafin’s death — a fact that made the early-morning killing all the more shocking to residents.
Captured in Warren, Vermont
The manhunt ended on Thursday when Vermont State Police arrested Ryan Hanafin in Warren, Vermont, after troopers spotted him driving, according to a WCAX report. Details about what led troopers to him were not immediately released.
Authorities have been careful about the limits of what is known. As of the latest reports, no criminal charges had been announced against Ryan Hanafin, and he continued to be described as a person of interest who had been taken into custody. The investigation remains active, and any decision on charges would come from prosecutors after the investigation is complete.
The alert that went out while Hanafin was still at large asked anyone who spotted him — or the black Charger with plate 2PSY15 — to call police immediately rather than engage him. That warning, combined with the suspended firearms license, is what drove the “armed and dangerous” designation throughout the manhunt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the victim?
Andria Hanafin, 49, of Reading, Massachusetts. She was found dead of a gunshot wound in the kitchen of her home on Center Avenue.
When and where did this happen?
Her body was discovered at about 12:38 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at the family home in Reading, Massachusetts.
Who found her body?
Her husband, Matthew Hanafin, 48, discovered her body when he returned home from work.
Was anyone else in the home?
Yes. The couple’s 13-year-old child was inside the home at the time Andria Hanafin was found.
Who is the person of interest?
Ryan Hanafin, 22, the couple’s older son. Police described him as 5 feet 10 inches tall with shoulder-length straight blonde hair, a mustache and glasses.
What vehicle was he believed to be driving?
A black 2010 Dodge Charger with Massachusetts license plate 2PSY15.
Why did police call him “armed and dangerous”?
His firearms license had been suspended, and investigators warned the public not to approach or confront him if spotted.
Where was he captured?
In Warren, Vermont, on Thursday, Oct. 8, by Vermont State Police after troopers spotted him driving, according to WCAX.
Has Ryan Hanafin been charged?
As of the latest reports, authorities had not announced any criminal charges against him. He remains a person of interest who has been taken into custody.
When was the last homicide in Reading?
More than 13 years ago, according to District Attorney Marian Ryan.
