In a devastating case of domestic violence in Indiana, a 77-year-old man, identified as P. Waite, has been charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after he confessed to fatally shooting his 61-year-old wife, P. Alma, his 39-year-old stepson, F. Ramirez, and his 81-year-old mother-in-law, G. Tapia, at their shared home.
The Deadly Incident
The horrific incident occurred on Thursday evening, when Waite called 911 and calmly confessed to the crime, telling the dispatcher, “I shot them all. I’m certainly not proud of that fact.”
When officers arrived, they found Waite waiting outside near the garage, just as he had indicated. The victims were confirmed to be Alma, his wife of two years; Ramirez, his stepson; and Tapia, his bedridden mother-in-law.
In addition to the three fatalities, authorities confirmed that a fourth person, another family member, was shot and remains in critical condition in a hospital as of Monday.
The Argument that Led to the Violence
The violence reportedly stemmed from a heated argument over property ownership and the couple’s possible separation.
Waite told detectives that he and his wife had been arguing throughout the day, initially about his decision to attend a Bible study instead of taking care of Tapia, and later about his .45-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol, which he had used earlier that day to shoot a snake on their property.
As the argument escalated, Alma allegedly told Waite he needed to leave the home, but Waite refused, claiming he had lived in the home for 27 years. Court documents indicate that the ownership of the home had become a point of contention between the couple.
Waite had originally purchased the home in 1998 with his first wife, Nancy, who passed away in 2019, leaving Waite as the sole owner.
However, after his marriage to Alma in 2024, the home’s ownership changed, and Alma became the sole owner. In March 2024, she added her daughter’s name to the deed through a quitclaim transfer, effectively removing Waite from the title.
The Shooting and Arrest
According to Waite’s statement to detectives, during the argument in the kitchen, Alma turned to face him, and in that moment, he shot her. He then heard the others in the den and shot them as well. Afterward, Waite was found waiting outside the home by responding officers, who arrested him without incident.
During questioning, Waite stated that he didn’t remember how many times he fired the gun but confirmed that he had carried the same weapon he had used earlier to shoot a snake.
Authorities confirmed the charges of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Waite pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance on Monday and was denied bond. He is currently being held at the county jail.
Investigations and Community Reactions
Waite had no prior criminal convictions before this incident. The case has left the community in shock, raising difficult questions about domestic conflict, access to firearms, and the complexities of late-life relationships and property rights.
Authorities have not yet fully determined how Alma came to legally gain sole ownership of the home, but the dispute over property ownership seems to have triggered the tragic series of events.