In a quiet Kennett Square, Pennsylvania home, a domestic argument on an April evening escalated into a tragedy that claimed the lives of two women. Judith Hanks, a 75-year-old female, and her daughter, Emily, were shot and killed during a dispute with Judith's husband, Roger Hanks. The incident unfolded on a Thursday, leaving a peaceful neighborhood in shock and a family shattered by violence.
The argument reportedly began when Judith Hanks expressed frustration with her husband, telling
him he 'doesn't do anything and just sits in his chair.' At the time, Roger Hanks was cleaning his 9mm handgun. In what prosecutors would later call a senseless act, he responded to his wife's words with a fatal threat, warning he would 'plug' her if she didn't stop. The argument continued, and the handgun, which Roger Hanks later claimed he believed was unloaded, discharged, striking Judith once in the chest.
In the immediate aftermath of the first shot, the couple's daughter, Emily Hanks, reportedly ran at her father in a rage. Roger Hanks then fired a second time, shooting his daughter in the chest. Following the shootings, he contacted a neighbor and admitted to what he had done, stating that he 'went crazy.' The neighbor promptly called 911. When law enforcement arrived at the Wiltshire Drive home, they found both Judith and Emily unresponsive in the kitchen. Despite the efforts of medics, both women were pronounced dead at the scene.
Roger Hanks, 76, was taken into custody by the Pennsylvania State Police. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and related offenses. He is currently being held without bail at the Chester County Prison. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for early May. The community was left to mourn the loss of Judith, a retired teacher who had dedicated her life to educating children, and her accomplished daughter, Emily.
