A 92-year-old woman in Arizona is accused of murdering her 72-year-old son because he planned to have her move into an assisted living community, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Anna Mae Blessing of Fountain Hills, AZ, who allegedly shot her son and tried to shoot his girlfriend on Monday, has been charged with three felonies: first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping, authorities said in a press release obtained by McKnight’s Senior Living.
Blessing, according to the sheriff’s office, told detectives that she had been thinking about her son’s plans for several days when she concealed two pistols in the pockets of her robe and confronted him in his bedroom.
“During the confrontation, Blessing stated that she removed the handgun and fired multiple rounds, striking and killing her son,” authorities said. “She then pointed the gun at her son’s girlfriend, and the two struggled over the weapon, when it was dislodged from her hand. Blessing retrieved the second handgun and attempted to point it at the girlfriend, who knocked it from Blessing’s possession.”
The girlfriend then contacted the sheriff’s office, and detectives responded and ultimately took Blessing into custody.
The son later was identified as Thomas Blessing, and the three reportedly were living in Thomas Blessing’s girlfriend’s condo.
At a Tuesday court appearance, where Blessing appeared in a wheelchair, her bond was set at $500,000. If she is released from jail, she is prohibited from returning to the scene of the crime, having contact with the girlfriend or possessing weapons, among other restrictions. A July 10 status hearing and July 13 preliminary hearing also were scheduled.
