An elderly South Carolina woman has been arrested and charged with murder after police found her 81-year-old husband shot to death inside an assisted living facility. Authorities say 82-year-old Harriett Kay Recker was taken into custody on Friday after deputies responded to reports of gunfire at the Preston Health Center in Hilton Head.
The Shooting at Preston Health Center
According to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, deputies arrived at the care facility around 10:30 a.m. and discovered Dennis Recker, 81, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside a room. His wife Harriett was found at the scene alongside him.
Despite emergency medical treatment, Dennis Recker died from his injuries. The Beaufort County Coroner later confirmed his identity after notifying the family.
Arrest and Charges
Harriett Recker was immediately arrested at the scene and booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center. She has been charged with:
Murder
Possession of a weapon during a violent crime
As of Monday, she remained in custody without bond and was scheduled for arraignment the same day.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not shared any possible motive for the shooting, and it remains unclear which spouse was a resident of the facility. Police emphasized that the incident posed no ongoing threat to the public.
The Preston Health Center, where the shooting took place, provides both short- and long-term medical care, including services for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
Community Shock
The unusual nature of the crime — involving an elderly couple in their 80s at a healthcare facility — has left the Hilton Head community stunned. While investigators continue to search for answers, the case highlights how domestic disputes and violence can occur even in unexpected settings.
The arrest of 82-year-old Harriett Kay Recker in the fatal shooting of her husband, Dennis Recker, is now under active investigation by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. As the legal process unfolds, many questions remain about what led to the tragic incident inside an assisted living center.
For now, the case serves as a sobering reminder that domestic violence can affect people of any age and in any environment.
