Man went to check why his soon-to-be-ex-wife canceled their New Year’s Eve plans only to catch her “in the act” with another man before shooting at her new partner 10 times, killing him; arrested
Pennsylvania – In a harrowing incident in Pennsylvania, a 30-year-old man, identified as R. Naugle, is now facing a criminal homicide charge after he allegedly gunned down his estranged wife’s new partner, identified as J. Thomas, in a fit of rage on New Year’s Eve. Authorities say Naugle admitted to fatally shooting Thomas after unexpectedly showing up at his wife’s home and finding her with another man.
Naugle was arrested at the scene and later charged with criminal homicide. He is currently being held at the county prison without bail, following a court decision on Thursday. His preliminary hearing is set for January 14.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, the fatal shooting happened just before 8:30 p.m. on December 31. That evening, Naugle called 911 himself and confessed he caught his soon-to-be-ex-wife with another man and killed her new partner, Troopers responded to the home on the 300 block of Hugh Street and found the victim, Thomas, deceased in the downstairs area of the house. Court records indicate that Naugle and his estranged wife were in the midst of divorce proceedings, with the woman filing for divorce in November 2025. Though Naugle had moved out just two days prior, he still had a key to the property.
Earlier in the day, Naugle had discussed spending New Year’s Eve with his estranged wife. She later canceled those plans. But instead of staying away, he decided to go to the house anyway. When he arrived, he saw an unfamiliar vehicle parked in the driveway. Using his key, he unlocked the basement door and entered. Inside, he reportedly caught his soon-to-be-ex-wife “in the act” with Thomas. According to police, Naugle drew his gun and opened fire, unloading approximately 10 rounds at the man.
After the shooting, Naugle reportedly checked for a pulse to confirm whether Thomas was dead. He then called 911 and waited for officers to arrive. During his interview with police, he was cooperative and told them directly that he had intended to kill Thomas. Troopers recovered a gunat the scene, matching Naugle’s description of the weapon used in the shooting. The county coroner officially declared Thomas dead at the scene. While authorities have not released many details about the victim, they confirmed that he did not live at the residence where the shooting occurred.
Naugle’s soon-to-be-ex-wife told police that her husband no longer lived in the home and had only recently moved out. She confirmed that he was not invited that evening and that he had come without her knowledge after their plans were canceled. At his arraignment, Naugle was denied bail and transferred to the county jail. No defense attorney has been listed for him in public court records as of yet. Now, as the legal system begins its work, a holiday night that should have ended in celebration has instead been marked by bloodshed, grief, and a fatal breakdown of a once-shared life.
