A terrible and horrifying episode involving Roger Hanks, 76, who is accused of a heinous crime – the shooting and killing of his wife and daughter after an argument over gun safety — rocked the quiet Chester County neighborhood.
According to reports, at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, authorities were called to the 200 block of Wiltshire Drive, where Roger Hanks and his 75-year-old wife, Judith, resided. The tragedy that was taking place behind the walls of the Hanks’ $746,000 mansion, a symbol of affluence and family, shocked the upscale neighborhood.
When the police arrived, they discovered Roger Hanks in his garage and immediately arrested him. He admitted to the police that he had shot and killed his wife, Judith, and their 37-year-old daughter, Emily, during the fight.
The shocking admission revealed that Roger Hanks had been cleaning his gun when he and his wife got into a heated disagreement about gun safety while he was supposedly intoxicated. Hanks allegedly threatened his wife with the gun in a horrifying escalation before firing the shot that killed her.
Sadly, the argument went too far when Emily’s father allegedly turned the gun on her when she became furious after seeing the fight. After another shot was fired, Emily was also killed by the senseless violence.
Roger Hanks allegedly pointed his gun at both women’s chests while bragging about his marksmanship, according to an affidavit. Hanks’ confession was supported by the discovery by police of the firearm and expended shot casings from the site.
Emily’s profile highlighted her professional accomplishments, including her work as a consultant director and her degree from the University of Miami. Judith’s social media posts revealed the affectionate and joyous relationship between the Hanks family.
Roger Hanks is being charged with first-degree murder, which serves as a sobering reminder of the terrible outcomes of domestic conflicts that are escalated by the use of firearms, even as the community struggles with shock and grief.
