Aaron Pennington, a 35-year-old father of four, is suspected of murdering his wife Breanne Pennington in their home in Gardner, Massachusetts, in October 2023. According to Brenda Hull, the victim’s aunt, Pennington allegedly fled the scene after the crime, leaving the children alone with their mother’s body. Hull described the moment Pennington was discovered fleeing, with the 9-year-old daughter in his eyes as he drove away, aware that the children were left responsible for the family’s tragedy.
The family’s religious community played a critical role in the aftermath. The Penningtons were members of the Mormon church, and members of the church were among the first to respond when the children sought help from a neighbor’s home. They eventually found Breanne’s body in her home, still warm to the touch, indicating the time of death was not too long ago. Despite early reports that the children might have heard their mother cry before fleeing, Hull asserts that the sounds were likely from Pennington himself, as he left before the children would have been able to hear anything from the room.
Hull also shared details about the murder weapon, a Walther pistol, which was given to Breanne by her grandfather. She mentioned that Pennington had been searching the house for something the day before the murder, leading her to believe it was the gun he used. However, he had not been at the house when the murder occurred. Hull noted Pennington’s history of mental illness, suggesting that it could have been a cover for evading personal responsibilities, such as work and potential military service, which might have led to a discharge with benefits.
Pennington’s recent actions also point to a plan for evading capture. He had been talking about living off the grid and was in contact with a friend on the way back from the airport, where he had visited his parents in California. He had also borrowed money from his father, which he allegedly used to prepare for his escape. This, along with his behavior of being