A 22-year-old Reading man accused of shooting and killing his mother inside their family home was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty to murder and firearms charges.
Prosecutors revealed new details about the case as Ryan Hanafin appeared in Woburn District Court, including allegations about what may have led to the deadly confrontation.
over Katz pleading not guilty to murder.
Video here showing him in court. This was late this
afternoon. Boston 25 News reporter Amel Elhel,
live outside of court in Woburn. Amel, new details
you're learning tonight.
Prosecutors say his mother was afraid of him. Yeah, that's some of
what we're learning today in court, Scott.
Ryan Hannafin is accused of shooting and killing his
mother in their Reading home just last week.
Today in court, prosecutors detailed some of
the tensions that were building in the home just days before
her murder. And they also went through
the long list of firearms
that prosecutors say Hannifin had in his possession
Ryan Hannifin faced a judge
in a Woburn district courtroom Thursday accused of killing his own
mother 49 year old Andrea Hannifin the 22 year old pleaded
not guilty to the many charges he's
facing including first degree murder the investigation
also revealed that the defendant
communicated via Snapchat with both a close friend
of his and a cousin in one of the messages
Mr. Hannafin, Ryan Hannafin, is telling his cousin that he,
quote, blew Madre to pieces.
According to prosecutors, Hannafin's father told investigators his wife
and son had been arguing over the 80-some cats she was fostering.
He said in their last conversation,
Andrea told him she wanted her son to move out.
Hours later, police say Hannafin's father found his wife dead inside
their Center Avenue home with an apparent gunshot wound.
Investigators say Hannafin was arrested
in Vermont later that day with a rifle in his car,
along with thousands of rounds of ammunition.
After being extradited back to Massachusetts Thursday,
prosecutors requested that he be held without bail,
and his defense attorney didn't push back.
With respect to the more serious docket,
I am not going to apply for bail at this time, Your Honor.
Also revealed in court,
Hannafin had a license to carry with 10 firearms registered to him,
The prosecutors say 19 were found in his bedroom,
which prosecutors described as hoarding conditions.
So while I recognize that this defendant comes before the court with
no record and that these are the first criminal offenses he is facing,
he is now facing the most potential
severe penalty under Massachusetts law.
Hannifin is being held without bail.
He's next due back in court November 10th.
Live in Woburn, Amel Elhel for your local station, Boston 25 News.
