Mom and Son Argued Over the Many Rescue Cats She Kept at Home. Hours Later, She Was Dead and He Was on the Run

Andria HanafinCredit: FacebookRyan Hanafin is charged with murdering his mother, Andria

Ryan Hanafin, who is charged with murdering his mother, Andria Hanafin, reportedly argued with her about her foster cats before allegedly killing her

WCVB reported that authorities rescued 84 cats from Andria’s home in Reading, Mass., following her death

Ryan has pleaded not guilty to murder

The Massachusetts man accused of killing his mother had reportedly been arguing with her about the rescue cats she fostered at their home.

Ryan Hanafin, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Andria Hanafin, 49, according to WCVB, NBC Boston and The Boston Globe.

Andria was found dead by her husband after he returned from work to their Reading, Mass., home on Oct. 8, per the Globe.

Citing a police report, WCVB, NBC and the Globe reported that Ryan and Andria had been fighting about the cats she had been fostering.

According to the police report, Andria called her husband around 6:50 p.m. on Oct. 7 and told him she’d argued with Ryan about the cats and wanted their son to move out. Her husband discovered her body after returning from work shortly after midnight.

Following Andria’s death, authorities rescued 84 cats from the Hanafin home, according to WCVB.

“She was a definite cat whisperer,” said Karen Evans, the vice president of a local rescue organization, per the Globe. “She loved cats and they loved her back.”

Ryan was arrested in Vermont hours later on Oct. 8, after police had warned the public he was considered armed and dangerous.

Andria had two other children, one who was away at college at the time of the killing and another who was home at the time of the 911 call, the Globe previously reported.

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WCVB reported that Ryan pleaded not guilty to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

At a press conference held after Andria was found dead, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan called it a case of domestic violence, according to Boston 25.

“It’s alleged to be domestic violence at this point,” she said, “although not the traditional domestic violence situation that we think of.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Source: Crime