In a tragic case that stunned residents of Fountain Hills, Arizona, a 92-year-old woman’s fear of losing her independence led to an unthinkable act.
Anna Mae Blessing took drastic measures when faced with the prospect of moving to an assisted living facility – a decision that would forever change multiple lives.
Living with her 72-year-old son and his girlfriend should have been a peaceful arrangement.
Instead, tensions had been building as her son increasingly felt that his mother had “become difficult to live with.” When he suggested moving her to an assisted living facility, Blessing began contemplating a dark plan.
A Premeditated Act
On the morning of July 2, 2018, Blessing concealed two vintage firearms in her robe pockets – revolvers from the 1970s that held significant history.
One was her own purchase, while the other was a gift from her late husband.
The Confrontation
The mother-son argument that ensued in his bedroom quickly escalated to violence.
Blessing pulled out the first revolver and fired at her son, striking him in the neck and jaw. Her chilling words to police later revealed her mindset: “You took my life, so I’m taking yours.”
A Struggle for Safety
But the tragedy didn’t end there. When Blessing turned the gun on her son’s 57-year-old girlfriend, a desperate struggle ensued.
The girlfriend managed to disarm Blessing not once, but twice, as the elderly woman pulled out her second concealed weapon. The girlfriend’s quick thinking in calling the sheriff’s office likely prevented further violence.
When police arrived, they found a scene that would haunt even veteran officers.
Blessing was sitting calmly in a reclining chair in her bedroom, while her son lay dead. In a particularly poignant moment, she told officers she deserved to be “put to sleep” for her actions.
“I probably ought to be put to sleep. What can I do for society? I killed my son. The person I brought into this world.”