Police have arrested an 81-year-old Colorado man in connection to the murder of his wife and daughter, who were killed with an ax last weekend, authorities shared.
The Englewood Police Department shared in a press release that Reginald Maclaren contacted the police to say his wife and daughter had been “murdered” at about 6 p.m. on Saturday.
During the phone call, Maclaren allegedly told police that he knew the suspect and that the suspect had used a hammer to kill them, police shared.
Shortly after the call, officers arrived at Maclaren’s home, where they found him inside and “two victims inside large trash cans” in the living room/kitchen area, the release said.
“Both victims had substantial injuries and showed no signs of life,” the release said.
An investigation was quickly launched by the department in collaboration with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
“During the course of this investigation, it was determined that the victims were both killed with an ax,” police said.
Police also noted that during the investigation they discovered that one of the victims was dismembered by a saw before being put in the trash can.
Maclaren was arrested on first-degree murder charges on Saturday after being taken to the hospital, according to Division Chief Tracy Jones who held a press conference on Tuesday. Jones also described Maclaren as being cooperative with investigators, saying he has been “distraught” throughout everything.
“We are trying to determine why he did what he did,” Jones said. “He did confess.”
Police identified the victims as Bethany Maclaren, 70, and Ruth Jennifer Maclaren, 35, an arrest affidavit acquired by Mercury News said.
The affidavit also claimed that Maclaren told investigators he recently lost his job and was going to be unable to pay rent, so he planned and carried out the killings so his family wouldn’t have to be homeless, KUSA reported
The job he worked at involved helping homeless people, the affidavit said, The Denver Post reported.
Maclaren is currently being held without bond and the investigation remains ongoing.
Related
Related
