In the small town of Haubstadt, Indiana, a domestic dispute escalated into a tragic event that claimed the lives of three family members and left another critically injured. Alma Tapia Waite, a 61-year-old female, was shot and killed on May 29, 2025, in her home on Scottsdale Drive. The incident also resulted in the deaths of her 81-year-old mother, Gloria Tapia Garcia, and her 39-year-old son, Fernando Tapia Ramirez Sr. A second son, Juan Tapia Ramirez Jr., was also shot but survived.
The sole suspect in the shootings is Alma's 77-year-old husband, Patrick Waite. According to law enforcement, Patrick Waite himself called 911 after the incident, admitting to the shootings and informing the dispatcher that he would be waiting unarmed in his garage for the police to arrive. Upon their arrival, he surrendered without incident and directed them to the.
45 caliber handgun he had used, which was found on a lawnmower.
The motive for the deadly outburst appears to have stemmed from an argument over the ownership of the house they shared. Alma had reportedly filed a quitclaim deed to transfer the property into her daughter's name. This action, coupled with ongoing discussions of separation, is believed to have triggered the violence. Patrick Waite had lived in the house for over two decades.
Inside the residence, police discovered Alma Waite deceased in the kitchen. In the den, they found the bodies of her mother, who was in a medical bed, and her son, Fernando. Her other son, Juan, was also found in the den with gunshot wounds to his neck and chest. A child who witnessed the shootings managed to escape to an upstairs bathroom with two other adults who were in the house at the time but were unharmed.
Patrick Waite was taken into custody and has been charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to the killings, stating, 'I shot them all.' He has since appeared in court where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, and he is being held without bond.
