Mom charged with killing husband, 3-year-old son at Pocono resort in PA could face death penalty

It is possible that the criteria needed in Pennsylvania could be met to justify the death penalty in the case of a young mother who has been charged with killing her husband and young son earlier this month during an extended stay at a resort in Pennsylvania.

Metallica Rose Harrison, 27, is accused of the stabbing death of her husband, Charles ‘Chaz’ Harrison, and their 3-year-old son Tristan in their room at the Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark and entertainment resort in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. Harrison had apparently also attempted suicide by slashing her neck and wrists. She called 911 after stabbing her family and reportedly requested help killing herself. She reported to dispatchers, “My husband and son are already gone in the bed in the living room.” and added, “They’re already gone. I’m sorry.”

In Pennsylvania, to receive the death penalty, certain criteria must be met. The suspect must be convicted of first-degree murder, and there also has to be a "statutory aggravating circumstance,” according to Rod Devine, a private investigator based in the state. Devine believes that there is the possibility that Harrison could face the death penalty if these factors are met, according to Fox News. 

In order to meet the criteria for murder in the first degree, the killings must be proven to be premeditated. Kitchen knives found at the scene were not from the resort, and it is alleged that Harrison brought the knives from their home. If this is proven, then this would qualify for the first-degree murder component. 

For the second component, the “statutory aggravating circumstance,” the fact that a 3-year-old child was killed could qualify, as the state law counts victims under 12 years old under this component. 

However, it is considered unlikely that Harrison would actually face the death penalty. There have been no executions in over 10 years in the state due to a moratorium issued in 2015 by then-Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, and continued by current Governor Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat. In fact, the last time that there was an execution in Pennsylvania was in 1999, which occurred under Republican Governor Tom Ridge.

The family had been staying at the resort since Sept. 21 when the killing occurred on Oct. 12. She is charged with 2 counts of criminal homicide and is currently in jail in Monroe County. She is due in court sometime in November. The total cost of the extended stay at the lodge was reportedly around $6,000. 

In the weeks leading up to the killings, there was a gas shutoff notice given to the family. The gas notice was apparently taped to the door of their home, dated Oct. 5, and said that the gas service could be disconnected over an unpaid balance of $29.05. 

Harrison’s stepmother reportedly said that Harrison had drained her husband’s 401K in order to pay for the trip to the resort.