SC - 82 year old woman arrested for shooting her husband at assisted living facility. 12 Sept 2025

[Spectrix]

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C -
An 82-year-old woman in South Carolina is facing charges after allegedly shooting her husband at an assisted living facility.

Deputies responded to the Preston Health Center in Hilton Head Island after gunshots were reported. The care facility is located on Birdsong Way in the Hilton Head Plantation community. (Map Reference)

When they arrived at a patient’s room, deputies said they found Harriet Kay Recker next to her husband 81-year-old Dennis Recker, who was suffering from a gunshot wound.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

His wife has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

82-year-old killed her husband at assisted living facility, sheriff’s office says

An 82-year-old woman in South Carolina is facing charges after officials said she shot and killed her husband last week.

www.wvlt.tv

 

[Warwick7]

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C -
An 82-year-old woman in South Carolina is facing charges after allegedly shooting her husband at an assisted living facility.

Deputies responded to the Preston Health Center in Hilton Head Island after gunshots were reported. The care facility is located on Birdsong Way in the Hilton Head Plantation community. (Map Reference)

When they arrived at a patient’s room, deputies said they found Harriet Kay Recker next to her husband 81-year-old Dennis Recker, who was suffering from a gunshot wound.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the victim succumbed to his injuries.

His wife has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a violent crime.

82-year-old killed her husband at assisted living facility, sheriff’s office says

An 82-year-old woman in South Carolina is facing charges after officials said she shot and killed her husband last week.

www.wvlt.tv

I wonder why??

 

[Gemmie]

“When I saw her picture, I was dumbfounded, like there is no way that this woman did what they are saying she did,” Beaufort County resident, Ted Dwemoh said.

Especially after talking with Harriet on multiple occasions at her home.

“She was always loving,” Dwemoh said. “She would try and help you out with anything, like when you went to her house to do pest control, she would walk and talk with you, give you snacks and water. She’s the nicest person in Sun City.”

82-year-old woman charged with husband’s murder after shooting on Hilton Head Island

An 82-year-old woman faces murder and another firearms charge related to a shooting Friday morning on Hilton Head Island, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office confirms.

www.wtoc.com

 

[Gemmie]

I wonder why??

What came to mind to me was a mercy killing. Well, mercy in her mind. That's just a guess on my part.

 

[Gators North]

Maybe the husband was suffering from a terminal disease and she decided that she didn’t want to see him suffer anymore? IDK. MOO

 

[Inthedetails]

What came to mind to me was a mercy killing. Well, mercy in her mind. That's just a guess on my part.

My first thought was mercy killing. Or, she is facing her own end of life and didn't want him to be alone without someone to look out for him. Heartbreaking.

jmopinion

 

[JennieM]

Same, my first thought was mercy killing.

 

[JennieM]

Deputies charge 82-year-old after husband killed at Hilton Head assisted living facility​

Man died at the facility​

Harriett Kay Recker(Beaufort County Detention Center)

Deputies charge 82-year-old after husband killed at Hilton Head assisted living facility

An 82-year-old woman was charged after allegedly shooting her husband to death at an assisted living facility in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

www.wbtv.com

 

[musicaljoke]

People in assisted living homes have loaded guns?

 

[Eli9]

My first thought was mercy killing. Or, she is facing her own end of life and didn't want him to be alone without someone to look out for him. Heartbreaking.

jmopinion

same. You know, I know this is so morbid, but I am actually interviewing at home euthanasia for my 15 year old, 90 lb GSD. Past a certain age and maybe in a certain medical condition we could be more compassionate for humans. I know, we are a looooong way away from that and many circumstances would need to be worked out but I hope (sadly) that this was a mercy killing

 

[Gemmie]

People in assisted living homes have loaded guns?

Apparently the wife of someone living there does. I've been in them before, there are no pat-downs or metal detectors so it wouldn't be at all difficult to bring a gun in.

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

Here is Harriett's Facebook page. Log into Facebook It has photos of Denny and her. I have read a few posts from people who know her that seem to think that she is a really nice person and can't believe that she would murder him.

[Mod snip naming innocent family members]

I read that Harriett Kay (Fetrow) Recker graduated from the Buffalo Center High School in 1961, and Dennis Recker graduated from the Buffalo Center High School in 1962. So, they probably knew each other from high school.

I don't know if I am permitted to post Frank's obituary. He lived in Myrtle Beach, SC.

JMO.

 

[mickey2942]

So sad, and so close to home for me. My spouse was in a rehabilitation center for most of the summer, after a traumatic fall. He was really out of it for a month. He told me that "if you love me, put me out of my misery".

Well, it isn't that easy. You can make a decision to have food and water withheld, which I wouldn't do to a dog.

I am surprised we don't see more of this. This may be just the beginning, as "Baby Boomers" are just beginning to hit 80.

 

[Coppertop15]

People in assisted living homes have loaded guns?

Sometimes. A lot of veterans with weapons stashed in drawers. They don't go through your stuff. My dad's neighbor had a terrifying standoff.

 

[Synergizer Bunny]

It seems that the facility that Denny was at was for short-term, long-term and memory-assisted care (like for those individuals who have Alzheimer's).

Because Harriett took the extreme measure of murdering her husband, should we assume that perhaps he was there as a permanent resident, maybe, for Alzheimer's Disease?

Still, at that, this seems awfully extreme. It makes me wonder if she was having issues herself??

Here is the information on the facility. Apologies if it has already been provided. The Preston Health Center at The Cypress of Hilton Head

JMO.

 

[musicaljoke]

Sometimes. A lot of veterans with weapons stashed in drawers. They don't go through your stuff. My dad's neighbor had a terrifying standoff.

Crazy! I wonder if this particular home had any policies about fire arms. Did they need to be locked up? Stored with a trigger lock?
How can an assisted living home keep people safe if there are loaded weapons in the drawers of people with dementia?

It's completely loopy to me.

 

[LadyL]

I can't bring myself to feel anything but sympathy for both of them. No anger, just sadness.

 

[Kittypoo]

It seems that the facility that Denny was at was for short-term, long-term and memory-assisted care (like for those individuals who have Alzheimer's).

Because Harriett took the extreme measure of murdering her husband, should we assume that perhaps he was there as a permanent resident, maybe, for Alzheimer's Disease?

Still, at that, this seems awfully extreme. It makes me wonder if she was having issues herself??

Here is the information on the facility. Apologies if it has already been provided. The Preston Health Center at The Cypress of Hilton Head

JMO.

Maybe they were both residents at the facility and she is also suffering from Dementia. As a daughter of two parents with this disease
IMO

 

[mickey2942]

We don't know anything about the situation. But I can emphasize with the situation. There are so many complex layers to consider. One is definitely financial. It is a lot of stress to be on a limited income, and start getting bills for rehabilitation. Medicare doesn't cover everything.

 

[Kaley Smith]

How does a gun get into an assisted living facility?