Authorities in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, have arrested 82-year-old Harriet Kay Recker for allegedly shooting and killing her husband, 81-year-old Dennis Recker, inside a local nursing home. The shocking incident occurred on September 12 at the Preston Health Center, a long-term care facility on the island.
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Dennis had been admitted to the center just a day before the shooting. Investigators said Harriet arrived at the facility that morning accompanied by a neighbor. The neighbor told police she briefly left the room to get an extra chair when she suddenly heard a gunshot. Upon returning, she found Dennis wounded and Harriet holding a revolver.
SUPPORT THE FAMILY - GOD BLESS YOU
Dennis, who had been shot in the chest, reportedly identified his wife as the shooter before he was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
During the investigation, deputies discovered a handwritten note in Harriet’s purse and another copy at the couple’s home. The notes appeared to hint at her emotional distress, with one line reading: “This has just been too much for me … 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.”
Officials believe the letters indicate the shooting may have been premeditated, suggesting that Harriet had planned the act in advance.
She was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. She is currently being held at the Beaufort County Jail without bond, and the case has been forwarded to a grand jury.
Neighbors in the couple’s Sun City community expressed disbelief, describing Harriet as a kind and gentle woman. “She was always sweet and caring,” one neighbor said. “It’s hard to imagine something like this happening.”
Authorities continue to investigate the case as the community comes to terms with the tragic event.