A 77-year-old man murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and stepson after being confronted with the possibility of losing his home of more than 25 years, according to Indiana authorities.
The Gibson County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. Thursday at a home in the 12000 block of South Scottsdale Drive in Haubstadt, a small community about 20 miles north of Evansville.
According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Patrick Waite called 911 to report that he had shot four people in the home. Cops quickly arrived on the scene and detained Waite, who told them where he had left the gun used in the murders. Officers rushed inside and discovered the first victim, Waite’s 61-year-old wife Alma Waite, dead in the kitchen.
They went to the den and discovered three more victims: Alma Waite’s two sons and her 81-year-old mother, Gloria Garcia Tapia, who was shot to death in a medical bed. One of the sons, 44, survived gunshot wounds to the neck and chest, but the other, 39-year-old Fernando Tapia Ramirez Sr., died, according to cops.
A child witnessed the shooting and fled to safety in an upstairs bathroom with two adults. Cops discovered spent shell casings in the den and kitchen, as well as the gun, a.45 Smith and Wesson, on top of a lawn mower in the garage.
After being read his Miranda rights, Patrick Waite allegedly stated that he had been married to his wife for about two years and had been discussing separating, though he did not want a divorce. According to the affidavit, he claimed to have shot a water snake in the back of the property and returned inside with the gun in his back pocket.
He claimed his wife was upset with him because he left the house to go to Bible study instead of staying at home with Garcia Tapia, who needed a caregiver. Alma Waite was also upset that he still had the gun, her husband told cops.
The suspect then questioned his wife about the paperwork she was holding, according to the affidavit. Patrick Waite claims his wife informed him that she had filed a quitclaim deed transferring ownership of the home to her daughter. He allegedly told her that he would not leave the home where he had lived for 27 years.
She turned toward him, and he shot her, according to the affidavit. He then heard her sons in the den and allegedly shot them as well. It is unclear whether he intended to shoot Garcia Tapia, but she was shot while lying in her medical bed in the den.
Patrick Waite told the detectives that he did not deserve to live after what he did.
“I shot them all,” he allegedly admitted. “I’m certainly not proud of that fact at all.”
According to the affidavit, he also told detectives, “I’m as guilty as can be.”
He faces three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. He is currently being held at the Gibson County Jail without bond.
