Mass Man Waives Extradition After Mother's Kitchen Shooting Death

BARRE, Vt., A 22-year-old man from Massachusetts waived extradition Thursday after being caught just hours following the discovery of his mother's body in a kitchen shooting. Authorities say Ryan Hanafin agreed to go back home immediately.

Ryan Hanafin became the center of an interstate hunt on Thursday night. His father, Matthew Hanafin, 48, walked into their residence at Reading around 12:38 a.m. and discovered his wife, Andria Hanafin, 49, lying dead with a gunshot wound in her kitchen. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan confirmed these details to reporters.

Prosecutor Marian Ryan told the court she had spoken directly with Massachusetts State Police. She expected them to get him back "pretty quickly" during a short hearing Friday afternoon.

The courtroom session took place virtually for everyone except the lawyers and press. The judge asked Hanafin if he could hear her clearly, and the defendant answered "Yes sir." He sat before the camera wearing a blue protective covering over his chest and shoulders.

"You are charged with crimes, felony crimes, in the state of Massachusetts, and they would like to have you returned," the judge stated plainly. She explained that he could request a formal governor's warrant process instead. That route involves the governor of Massachusetts asking the governor of Vermont to surrender him. It takes time for paperwork to clear up correctly before such a return happens.

The judge noted he could also file a habeas petition to challenge his current hold while waiting. "The most common basis for that might be that you were the wrong Ryan Hanafin," she said. By waiving extradition, Hanafin gave up that specific opportunity to go through the governor's warrant process or file any habeas petition. Do you understand that?

"Yes sir," Hanafin replied without hesitation.

The judge then asked if he had taken drugs or suffered from mental conditions that would cloud his judgment or make understanding the proceedings difficult. "No sir," Hanafin answered to each question. He stated he had spoken with his attorney and understood her advice fully.

"All right," the judge continued, "is it your voluntary choice to waive extradition and return to Massachusetts?" "Yes, that's what I'd like to do," Hanafin replied.

When did he plan to leave for Massachusetts to face charges in Reading remains unclear at this moment. The judge scheduled a status conference for next Thursday just to ensure the transfer completed successfully. If they have not yet retrieved him, officials will ask for a status report on that situation immediately.

The entire hearing lasted roughly four minutes. So far, Reading police refer to Hanafin as a person of interest rather than a suspect. Authorities have not publicly identified the specific Massachusetts felony charges referenced during Friday's extradition hearing.

Vermont state troopers were searching Warren for his black Dodge Charger because he had known ties there. About two hours into their search, they located him and arrested him without incident, authorities said.