Arrested Son Waives Right to Fight Return After Fatal Shooting in Massachusetts
Andrew Powell · Oct 9, 2026 · 2 min read
A 22-year-old Massachusetts man arrested in Vermont following the fatal shooting of his mother has agreed to return to his home state, clearing a legal step as authorities continue investigating the killing.
According to Fox News, Ryan Hanafin waived extradition during a brief court hearing Friday, allowing Massachusetts authorities to retrieve him without obtaining a governor’s warrant.
The timing of his transfer remained unclear.
Hanafin was arrested Thursday after an interstate search that began when his father, Matthew Hanafin, discovered his wife dead inside their Reading, Massachusetts, home.
According to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Matthew Hanafin arrived at the residence around 12:38 a.m. and found 49-year-old Andria Hanafin shot in the kitchen.
Authorities launched a search for Ryan Hanafin, whose black Dodge Charger was being sought in Warren, Vermont, where he had connections. Vermont state troopers located him about two hours into their search and took him into custody without incident.
During Friday’s hearing, Hanafin appeared remotely, wearing a blue protective covering over his chest and shoulders. The judge explained that he could contest his return through a formal extradition process, which would involve the governors of Massachusetts and Vermont, or voluntarily waive those rights.
The judge also explained that Hanafin could challenge his detention through a habeas petition while the process was underway.
Hanafin confirmed that he understood the options available to him and the consequences of waiving extradition. He also told the judge that he had spoken with his attorney and was not under the influence of drugs or dealing with a mental condition that would interfere with his ability to understand the proceedings.
Asked whether returning to Massachusetts was his voluntary choice, Hanafin answered, “Yes, that’s what I’d like to do.”
Ryan told the court she had spoken with Massachusetts State Police and expected authorities to bring Hanafin back “pretty quickly.”
A judge scheduled another status conference for next Thursday to determine whether the transfer had been completed. If Massachusetts had not yet taken custody of Hanafin, the court would seek an update on the process.
The hearing lasted approximately four minutes.
Despite the circumstances surrounding his arrest, Reading police have publicly described Hanafin as a person of interest, not a suspect, in his mother’s death. Authorities have also not publicly identified the Massachusetts felony charges referenced during the extradition hearing.
His return to Massachusetts is expected to allow the legal proceedings connected to those charges to move forward, while the investigation into Andria Hanafin’s killing continues.