A 22-year-old Massachusetts man accused of killing his mother during a dispute over the foster cats in their home allegedly sent a disturbing message to his cousin immediately after the shooting.
Andria Hanafin, 49, was discovered dead inside her Reading residence, roughly 14 miles north of Boston, during the early morning hours of October 8.
Investigators said that after allegedly shooting his mother in the head, Ryan Hanafin used Snapchat to message his cousin. In one text, he reportedly wrote that he had “blew madre to pieces,” followed by another saying he had “blew her s*** smooth off,” before driving away.
Prosecutors said Ryan and his mother had frequently argued over the large number of cats she was fostering. The 22-year-old reportedly objected to how many animals Andria was caring for, CBS News reported.
Authorities found 84 cats in the house following the shooting. The animals were removed from the property and taken to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, according to the outlet.
A friend previously told investigators that Andria had been afraid of her son and worried he might retaliate against her. She also reportedly said that Ryan “had ruined her life,” CBS News reported.
Matthew Hanafin returned home shortly after midnight following a 12-hour shift and found his wife lying in a pool of blood after being shot, officials said.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Andria was pronounced dead at the scene.
Matthew later said he had urged his son that morning to “get a job and do something” with his life. That evening, Andria reportedly called her husband and emphasized that she wanted Ryan to leave the family home.
Ryan Hanafin, 22, is accused of shooting his mother during an argument over the cats she was fostering at their Massachusetts home
Andria Hanafin, 49, a mother of three, was found dead by her husband at their home early Thursday morning
Matthew said he told his son to “do something” with his life on the morning before Ryan allegedly killed Andria
Ryan had most recently worked at a gun store about six months earlier and had previously attended a nearby university, the Boston Globe reported.
The Hanafin family has three children. Their youngest, a 13-year-old, was inside the house when the 911 call was placed, District Attorney Ryan said. Their daughter, meanwhile, was attending college and was not home at the time.
Ryan left the residence after the shooting, prompting authorities to launch an extensive manhunt for the 22-year-old suspect.
Police eventually found Ryan in Vermont, where he had driven in his 2010 black Dodge Charger. He was brought back to Reading after officers discovered thousands of rounds of ammunition in the vehicle.
Prosecutors charged Ryan with first-degree murder as well as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
A search of the home uncovered 19 firearms, including a ghost gun, along with a 3D printer in Ryan’s bedroom.
Authorities warned residents to exercise “extreme caution” around Ryan, describing him as potentially “armed and dangerous”
Police stopped the suspect after he fled to Vermont with a firearm and thousands of rounds of ammunition in his car
Police said the family had no history of visits from authorities before last week’s shooting
The 22-year-old is held without bail for the murder charge and a $5,000 bail for an untraceable firearm charge.
At his first appearance in Woburn District Court, Ryan pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is due back in court on November 10. His attorney, Carolyn McGowan, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail on Saturday.
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