4 minNews
Ryan Hanafin Waives Extradition in Massachusetts Mother's Shooting Death
Ryan Hanafin, arrested in Vermont after his mother was found shot dead in her Reading, Massachusetts kitchen, has waived extradition and agreed to return to face felony charges.
A 22-year-old Massachusetts man arrested in Vermont after his mother was found shot dead in her kitchen has waived extradition and agreed to return to his home state to face felony charges, a judge said Friday.
Ryan Hanafin appeared remotely in a Vermont courtroom, where he answered «Yes sir» to a series of questions about his decision to forgo a formal governor's warrant process. The hearing lasted roughly four minutes and was conducted virtually, with only lawyers and media present in the courtroom. Hanafin wore a blue protective covering over his chest and shoulders during the appearance.
The case began early Thursday when Matthew Hanafin, 48, returned to his Reading, Massachusetts home around 12:38 a.m. and found his wife, 49-year-old Andria Hanafin, shot dead in the kitchen, according to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan. Authorities launched an interstate manhunt for the couple's son, who was described as a person of interest.
Vermont state troopers located Ryan Hanafin's black Dodge Charger in Warren, Vermont, where he had known ties. About two hours into their search, they found him and arrested him without incident, authorities said.
During Friday's hearing, the judge explained that Hanafin had the right to a formal governor's warrant process, in which the governor of Massachusetts would formally ask the governor of Vermont to surrender him. The judge also noted that Hanafin could have filed a habeas petition challenging the state's authority to hold him, with the most common basis being mistaken identity.
«By waiving extradition, you're giving up your opportunity to go through the governor's warrant process and file any habeas petition. Do you understand that?» the judge asked. «Yes sir,» Hanafin replied.
The judge then asked whether Hanafin had taken any drugs or had any mental conditions that would affect his judgment or make it difficult to understand the proceedings. Hanafin answered «No sir» to each question and said he had spoken with his attorney and understood his advice.
When asked if it was his voluntary choice to waive extradition and return to Massachusetts, Hanafin said, «Yes, that's what I'd like to do.»
Timing for his return to Massachusetts to face charges in Reading was not immediately clear. The judge set a status conference for next Thursday to confirm whether 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,» the judge said.
Reading police have so far called Ryan Hanafin a person of interest and not a suspect. Authorities have not publicly identified the Massachusetts felony charges referenced during Friday's extradition hearing.
District Attorney Ryan said in court that she had spoken with Massachusetts State Police and expected them to be able to retrieve Hanafin «pretty quickly.» The case remains under investigation.
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