A Pennsylvania mother accused of killing her husband and 3-year-old son during a family vacation resented the boy for taking attention away from her, a relative told investigators, according to court documents.
Metallica Rose Harrison, 27, has been charged with two counts of criminal homicide after police found her husband, Charles Harrison, and their son stabbed to death at Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, Pennsylvania.
Members of the victims’ family told investigators that Harrison was “dominant” and “controlling” and had “isolated” her husband and son from relatives, ABC News reported. One relative said she was “resentful” toward her son because she “never wanted to get pregnant” and complained that the boy was “taking away one-on-one time between her and Charles.”
Police responded to the water park resort Monday after Harrison called 911 seeking help dying, according to a criminal complaint. Officers found her husband and son dead on mattresses and recovered a large butcher knife and a smaller knife from the bathroom.
The family had been staying at the resort since September 21 and had extended their stay. They were scheduled to check out on Tuesday, October 13.
Investigators also searched the family’s home in Towanda. The search warrant application said the search could uncover evidence of a motive and connect the knife used at the resort to items in the home, according to ABC News.
Police seized nearly a dozen knives from the home as well as a safe, a journal, a financial notebook, a laptop, and other items, according to a court filing.
Metallica Harrison’s stepmother, April Thetga, told The New York Post that the couple had tapped Charles’ retirement account to help pay for the extended vacation and other expenses. She said she didn’t know whether they borrowed against the account or withdrew the money.
“It was definitely odd, but they’d taken their 401(k) out … There was nothing we could do about that,” Thetga said.
Despite the unusual financial decision, Thetga said Harrison appeared normal during a video call the day before the killings.
“She had called and we’re video chatting, and then she says she loved us very much, just like she normally would,” she said.
Thetga described Charles as a devoted husband and father.
“He was a fantastic husband. She definitely got lucky when it came to him. He just was good. He was a good father. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him fight,” she told the outlet.
“Absolutely it was a loving family. We’re just as shocked as everybody else. We’re not evil people. We want answers. They were always happy,” Thetga said.
According to a police affidavit, Harrison told the dispatcher that she needed “help dying.”
“My husband and son are already gone in the bed in the living room,” Harrison told the dispatcher, according to the affidavit. “They’re already gone. I’m sorry.”
She later told officers she wanted to be with her husband and son.
During the ambulance ride, Harrison said she “f*cked up,” according to the affidavit.
“Every day, I work so hard. To be the best person, the best mother, the best wife,” she told officers in the ambulance. “It wasn’t supposed to end like this. I was supposed to have my happy family. That’s what I envisioned since I was a child.”
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