Murder warrant issued for missing Gardner man after wife found shot dead

A murder warrant has been issued for Aaron Pennington, the missing Gardner man wanted after police responded to the family’s home Sunday and found his wife dead after being shot in the face.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said the court issued the warrant three days after police began the search for Pennington who was previously sought in connection with his wife, Breanne Pennington’s death.

Police responded to the couple’s Cherry Street home in Gardner Sunday at around 9:14 a.m. after their four children went to a neighbor’s house and told the neighbor that “they could not find their father and that their mother was in her bedroom crying.” The 911 caller added the father’s car was no longer in the driveway.

Upon arrival, police found Breanne Pennington, 30, “lying in bed in an upstairs bedroom with obvious signs of death from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.” A responding paramedic declared Breanne Pennington dead at 9:30 in the morning, the warrant states.

The warrant features one new shocking detail not included in the affidavit seeking the warrant: a note dated Saturday at 7:04 p.m. found on a limited forensic examination of Aaron Pennington’s cellphone that reportedly read, “Don’t say anything. Be quite (sic) If she wakes up just say you’re getting nasal spray Get on side of bed — very close proximity to head Put hole in her head.”

The four children are in state custody. Police recovered three bullet casings at the scene, but not a gun, according to court documents.

The family had already decorated the house for Halloween, with a large “Boo” sign next to the front door and some small, colorful pumpkins flanking the stairs to the front door. A small object, unmistakably a child’s toy, rested in the front yard on Wednesday afternoon.

The house matched others in the neighborhood all spotted with stately maple trees. Nearby homes were decorated with the likes of skeletons and Nightmare before Christmas characters and several of their owners were bustling about with chores, including one taking in the trash bins for the Pennington home.

The neighbors, however, already showed signs of fatigue over being questioned about the Pennington family, with one woman throwing her hands up in disgust and shaking her head.

One man who declined to be interviewed did have a couple of small remarks.

“Nobody lives there anymore,” he said while doing some outdoor chores, adding one detail about the family: “They had their problems just like every married couple.”

Indeed, the application for a search warrant states that the Penningtons “had been dealing with marital issues for quite some time” and that Breanne Pennington “had plans of moving to Texas with the kids to be away from” him.

The document also states that Aaron Pennington “suffered from mental health issues and had threatened suicide.” While neither adult had a license to carry in Massachusetts, “Breanne Pennington was known to have a firearm at the residence for her protection,” though it is not clear if this was the murder weapon.

A massive search for Aaron Pennington began Sunday and has continued since.

A bow hunter spotted Aaron Pennnington’s 2013 white BMW 320 Monday in the vicinity of Camp Collier, a Boy Scout camp in Gardner.

Early’s office filed for the murder warrant, granted by Gardner District Court Wednesday.

The search for Aaron Pennington is ongoing. He is considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who sees Pennington is encouraged to contact the Gardner Police Department at 978-632-5600 or the Massachusetts State Police at 508-829-8326.