39-year-old father died during bonding time with his 12-year-old son after his highly intoxicated 65-year-old stepmother walked into the room and shot him in the chest; stepmother arrested
Connecticut – In a deeply unsettling case out of Connecticut, a 65‑year‑old woman, identified as M. Yeagher, is facing serious charges in connection with the death of her 39-year-old stepson, identified as A. Olson, whom she shot in the chest while he was having “father-son” time with his 12-year-old son. According to reports, Yeagher was highly intoxicated, retrieved a firearm, and shot Olson in the chest as he watched a movie with the child.
According to the Connecticut State Police, Yeagher is charged with murder, carrying a firearm while under the influence, risk of injury to a child, and first‑degree reckless endangerment. The charges stem from the allegation that Yeagher entered the living room of the residence at about 9:20 p.m. on Monday when Olson and the boy were watching a child’s movie The incident escalated when Yeagher shot Olson with a firearm, despite the presence of the child, creating charges of both homicide and endangering a minor.
On the evening of the shooting, Olson and the 12‑year‑old boy were in a home watching a movie, when Yeagher allegedly entered the room unannounced. The boy told investigators that Yeagher came in and fired a shot at Olson. Officers arrived to find Olson with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Meanwhile, Yeagher was discovered apparently intoxicated in the home. She claimed to investigators that Olson “tried to kill me” and that she shot him in self‑defense. According to reports, Yeagher admitted she had been drinking heavily earlier in the day. She claimed she woke up “terrified,” retrieved a firearm from her safe, and then shot Olson. She told detectives that she believed Olson and the boy were coming toward her, prompting her to fire. Yet the child’s version contradicted this account, stating simply that Yeagher walked into the room and shot.
State police and firefighters responded to the home following reports of a shooting at about 9:20 p.m. Troopers found Olson unresponsive on the floor and a 12‑year‑old boy nearby. A firearm cartridge and casing were recovered near Yeagher’s bed. Police found Yeagher resting on a bed in the bedroom, along with a gun safe nearby. Officers were told she did not remember fully retrieving the gun, only hearing a disturbance, growing frightened, and then shooting. The boy was treated for shock and trauma; no physical injuries were reported but the emotional impact is clear. The community reacted with horror, calling the incident “absolutely horrific.” Following her arrest, Yeagher was placed on a $1 million bond and remanded to the Connecticut State Department of Correction. She is scheduled to appear in court on December 11. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine motive, the alcohol factor, and Yeagher’s claim of self‑defense. The charges she faces carry severe penalties—including life imprisonment—should she be convicted of murder and the accompanying offenses.
For the family of Olson—described by friends as someone with a “heart of gold” and “kind and generous”—the tragedy remains deeply personal. A social‑media fundraiser described him as a loving father and friend who did not deserve to be shot while simply watching a children’s movie with a child. Now the surviving 12‑year‑old carries the trauma of witnessing a father gunned down, while the community at large grapples with how a night marked as “fun‑time” became one of devastating loss. This case has underscored the dangers of alcohol, firearms, and domestic instability. A father entered a room to spend time with his son, only to be murdered in cold blood. As the legal process moves forward, the young boy, the victim’s loved ones, and the town of Killingly wait for answers—and justice.
