Authorities found Andria Hanafin dead inside her Center Avenue home before locating her 22-year-old son hours later in Vermont.
READING, MA — A 49-year-old mother was found fatally shot inside her Reading home early Thursday, and her 22-year-old son, identified by investigators as a person of interest, was taken into custody hours later in Vermont, authorities said.
Andria Hanafin was pronounced dead at her Center Avenue home after Reading police responded to a 911 call at about 12:38 a.m. Thursday, according to authorities. Investigators said she had suffered an apparent gunshot wound. Her adult son, Ryan Hanafin, was not at the house when officers arrived, and his vehicle also was missing, prompting a search that extended beyond Massachusetts.
Vermont State Police said troopers located Ryan Hanafin at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday as he drove on Vermont Route 100 south of the Sugarbush Access Road in Warren. Troopers stopped the vehicle and took him into custody without incident with assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Massachusetts State Police had notified Vermont authorities around 12:15 p.m. that Hanafin might be in the state and was being sought in connection with the Reading homicide investigation.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Reading Police Chief David J. Clark said after the apprehension that there was no longer a public safety threat connected with the search. Authorities had earlier warned residents not to approach Hanafin because investigators believed he could be armed and dangerous. Police had released information about the black 2010 Dodge Charger he was believed to be driving as they asked for the public’s help locating him.
Investigators said Andria Hanafin’s husband, Matthew Hanafin, discovered her after returning home from work. The couple’s 13-year-old son also was in the home and was unharmed. Authorities said the teenager had last seen his mother alive at about 5 p.m. Wednesday before leaving to spend time with friends. The family also has a daughter who was away at college, according to officials.
At a news conference Thursday, Ryan described the death as an apparent case of domestic violence, while stressing that the investigation was still developing. She said the family had no known history of police calls connected with the home. Authorities have not publicly established a motive, and Ryan Hanafin had not been publicly charged with his mother’s death as of Thursday evening.
Officials said Ryan Hanafin had obtained a Massachusetts license to carry a firearm in 2024 and legally owned several guns. Reading police suspended that license Thursday as the investigation unfolded. Authorities also said the weapon used in the shooting had not been recovered. Investigators have not publicly said what evidence led them to identify Hanafin as a person of interest.
The search affected daily life in Reading as police increased their presence around local schools. Reading Public Schools said classes would continue normally Thursday, though elementary schools kept students indoors for recess while authorities searched for Hanafin. Officials said they were coordinating closely with police and would notify families if conditions changed.
Vermont State Police said Hanafin was transported to the Berlin Barracks for processing after his arrest. His bail status and the timing of an initial court appearance were not immediately available. Vermont authorities said they remained in contact with Massachusetts State Police as the homicide investigation continued.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Reading Police Department and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office are continuing to investigate Andria Hanafin’s death. Officials said additional information about Hanafin’s detention and any court proceedings would be released as it became available.
Author note: Last updated October 8, 2026.