In a quiet home in Haubstadt, Indiana, a domestic dispute escalated into a tragic loss of life, claiming 39-year-old Fernando Tapia Ramirez Sr. and two of his family members. The evening of May 29, 2025, turned deadly inside a residence on South Scottsdale Drive, where Ramirez Sr., his mother, 61-year-old Alma Waite, and his grandmother, 81-year-old Gloria Garcia Tapia, were fatally shot. A fourth family member, Juan Tapia Ramirez Jr., was also shot and critically injured.
The man now facing charges for this devastating act is 77-year-old Patrick Waite, the husband of Alma Waite and Fernando's stepfather.
The events of that night were set in motion by a series of disagreements between Patrick Waite and his wife, Alma. The couple, who had been married for about two years, were reportedly discussing the possibility of divorce, a prospect Waite was against. Tensions were further inflamed by a dispute over the ownership of the house they shared, a home Waite had lived in for 27 years. On the day of the shooting, an argument reportedly began over Waite attending Bible study instead of helping with the care of his mother-in-law, Gloria, who required assistance. The conflict intensified when Alma expressed her unhappiness with Waite having a gun in the house and revealed that she had taken steps to transfer the home's deed into another person's name, telling him he needed to leave.
Following this confrontation, Patrick Waite allegedly used a. 45 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun to shoot his wife in the kitchen. He then proceeded to the den where he shot and killed Fernando Tapia Ramirez Sr. and his grandmother, Gloria Garcia Tapia, who was in a medical bed. His other stepson, Juan Tapia Ramirez Jr., was also shot in the den but survived his injuries. In a chilling turn of events, Waite himself contacted 911, informing the dispatcher that he had shot four people and would be waiting for law enforcement outside the garage with his hands up. He also expressed a desire to call his children and confess what he had done.
Upon their arrival, Gibson County Sheriff's deputies found Waite and took him into custody without incident. He reportedly confessed to the shootings immediately and directed officers to the location of the murder weapon on a lawnmower in the garage. Inside the home, authorities discovered the tragic scene. A juvenile who witnessed the shootings managed to hide in an upstairs bathroom with two other adults, all of whom were unharmed. Patrick Waite has since been charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He entered a plea of not guilty during his initial court appearance and is being held without bond at the Gibson County Jail.
