BARRE, Vt. — A 22-year-old Massachusetts man arrested in Vermont Thursday, hours after his mother was found shot to death in her kitchen, has waived extradition and agreed to return to Massachusetts.
Ryan Hanafin became the focus of an interstate manhunt Thursday after his 48-year-old father, Matthew Hanafin, arrived home at about 12:38 a.m. and discovered his wife, 49-year-old Andria Hanafin, dead from gunshot wounds in the Reading, Massachusetts, home, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.
The prosecutor told the court Friday that she had spoken with Massachusetts State Police and expected authorities to retrieve Ryan Hanafin “pretty quickly” following the brief hearing.
Ryan Hanafin, 22, of Reading, Massachusetts, was arrested in Vermont more than 12 hours after his father found his mother dead in their kitchen. Vermont State Police released this mugshot. (Vermont State Police)
The judge and Hanafin appeared remotely during the hearing, while only attorneys and members of the media were in the courtroom. When asked whether he could hear the judge, Hanafin replied, “Yes sir.”
During the virtual appearance, Hanafin wore a blue protective covering over his chest and shoulders.
A selfie shows Andria Hanafin, 49, of Massachusetts. Her husband, Matthew, found her dead early Thursday, and their oldest son, Ryan, was arrested in Vermont hours later. (Andria Hanafin/Facebook)
“You are charged with crimes, felony crimes, in the state of Massachusetts, and they would like to have you returned,” the judge told him. He explained that Hanafin could either waive extradition or wait for the formal governor’s warrant process, in which the Massachusetts governor would request his surrender from Vermont. That process could take time while officials reviewed the paperwork.
The judge also explained that Hanafin could file a habeas petition to challenge the state’s authority to hold him while awaiting extradition.
Ryan Hanafin appears virtually during an extradition hearing in Vermont on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. He waived extradition and is expected to return to Massachusetts to face unspecified felony charges. His mother was found shot to death in her kitchen early Thursday, Oct. 8, prompting an interstate manhunt that identified him as a “person of interest.” (Rashid Umar Abbasi for News Media)
“The most common basis for that might be that you were the wrong Ryan Hanafin,” the judge said. He then asked whether Hanafin understood that waiving extradition meant giving up the governor’s warrant process and the ability to file a habeas petition.
“Yes sir,” Hanafin answered.
The judge also asked whether Hanafin had taken drugs or had any mental health conditions that could affect his judgment or prevent him from understanding the proceedings.
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Police in Reading, Massachusetts, provided this image of Ryan Hanafin, 22. He is a person of interest in the death of his mother, who was found in her kitchen at about 12:38 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Police urged anyone who sees him to call 911 and not approach him, warning that he could be armed and dangerous. (Reading Police Department)
“No sir,” Hanafin replied to both questions.
He also told the judge that he had spoken with his attorney and understood the attorney’s advice.
“All right,” the judge said. “Is it your voluntary choice to waive extradition and return to Massachusetts?”
“Yes, that’s what I’d like to do,” Hanafin replied.
The Hanafin home in Reading, Massachusetts. Police arrested 22-year-old Ryan Hanafin in Vermont after his father returned home and found his mother dead in the kitchen. (Google Maps)
It was not immediately clear when Hanafin would be returned to Massachusetts to face charges in Reading, where his mother was shot to death.
The judge set a status conference for next Thursday to make sure Hanafin’s transfer had been completed.
“We’ll set it for status next Thursday just to make sure Massachusetts has retrieved him, and if they haven’t yet, we’ll ask for some status report on that,” he said.
The entire hearing lasted roughly four minutes.
Reading police have so far called him a person of interest and not a suspect, and authorities have not publicly identified the Massachusetts felony charges referenced during Friday’s extradition hearing.
Vermont state troopers were on the lookout for his black Dodge Charge in Warren, Vermont, where he had known ties. About two hours into their search, they found him, and he was arrested without incident, authorities said.