82-year-old accused of shooting husband dead at nursing home left chilling note

An 82-year-old woman who stands accused of shooting her husband in a nursing home had a cryptic note with her when she allegedly committed the act.

Harriet Kay Recker was arrested on September 12, having reportedly gunned down her husband, Dennis Recker, 81, at Preston Health Center in Hilton Head, Beaufort County, South Carolina.

Dennis had been admitted to the facility just one day prior due to medical issues requiring extra care. Authorities are now of the belief that Harriet’s attack was premeditated, based on the discovery of notes and financial documents, as well as interviews with family members.

Investigators told in court proceedings that on the morning of the incident, a neighbor who drove Harriet to the Preston Health Center was showing the couple a room before they went to fetch an extra chair.

When the neighbor left the Reckers together, they heard a loud bang and reportedly rushed back to find Harriet holding a revolver and her husband Dennis with a gunshot wound to his chest.

According to the New York Post, a witness said that Dennis had uttered, “She shot me.” Despite efforts to save his life, the 81-year-old died.

Credit / Beauford County Sheriff’s Office

And if you believed the story couldn’t get any stranger, investigators have now revealed that Harriet was in possession of a chilling note inside her purse, one that matched up with other notes discovered in the couple’s home.

“To you all, this has just been too much for me, I so wish I could do it with the wonderful family we have, so many good friends,” WOTC report.

“We can’t have a life without someone and that someone can’t be me as I am not strong enough or smart enough to do all this.”

During the investigation, Harriet Recker reportedly asked for an attorney, but also said of her late husband, “He was a good man,” describing the situation as “sad”.

Court records indicate that Harriet was booked into Beaufort County Jail the same day as the shooting and has been charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

After the court hearing, the judge found probable cause in the case and sent it to a grand jury.

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