Richard Hocking, a 93-year-old man from Fremont, California, faces murder charges after allegedly shooting his 86-year-old wife, Patricia (also referred to as Patty), on January 3, 2026. He reportedly called 911 shortly after midnight, confessed to the act, and turned himself in at the police station parking lot. Officers found Patricia dead from a gunshot wound to the head in the front passenger seat of their Ford Transit van, with a firearm recovered at the scene.​
Incident Details
Hocking allegedly planned the killing for about a month due to Patricia’s deteriorating health from diabetes and mobility issues, telling police it was “necessary.” He convinced her to enter the van from their home, drove to a shopping center parking lot on Mowry Avenue, and shot her there. Neighbors noted Hocking cared for her extensively as she became bedridden, while he himself suffered from serious conditions like COPD.​
Legal Status
Hocking faces murder charges with a firearm enhancement and is held without bail at Santa Rita Jail. His arraignment, initially set for January 7, was postponed; a plea hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2026. The couple had been married for 60 years, making the case particularly tragic according to local reports.
