A 93-year-old California man told police he spent a month planning his wife’s murder because killing her was “necessary” due to her declining health.
Story Overview
- Richard Hocking, 93, shot his 86-year-old wife Patty in a grocery store parking lot after a month of premeditation
- Hocking called 911 himself to surrender, claiming the killing was “necessary” because of his wife’s health issues
- Neighbors described the couple as devoted partners married 60 years, with Richard serving as Patty’s primary caregiver
- The defendant is charged with murder and held without bail, raising questions about elder care burdens and mercy killing claims
The Midnight Call That Shattered a 60-Year Marriage
Richard Hocking drove his wheelchair-bound wife to a Fremont grocery store parking lot shortly after midnight on January 3rd. What happened next defies the image neighbors painted of a loving, devoted couple. Hocking shot Patty in the head while she sat in the passenger seat, then calmly called 911 to report what he had done and surrender to authorities.
Police found the elderly woman dead in their vehicle on Mowry Avenue. A firearm lay recovered nearby. Hocking waited at the scene, offering no resistance when officers arrived. The man who neighbors called an “inspiring gentleman” had just executed what prosecutors say was a month-long plan to kill his wife.
When Caregiving Becomes a Death Sentence
Court documents reveal Hocking’s chilling rationale. He told investigators his wife’s health struggles made killing her “necessary.” Patty suffered from diabetes and other health issues that left her largely chair-bound for over a year. Richard, battling his own serious health problems including COPD, had become her complete caregiver according to neighbors who witnessed their daily struggles.
The transformation from devoted husband to alleged killer didn’t happen overnight. Prosecutors say Hocking admitted planning the murder for approximately one month before carrying it out. What changed during that planning period remains unclear, but the premeditation eliminates any possibility this was a moment of overwhelming desperation or sudden mental break.
The Dangerous Logic of Mercy Without Consent
Hocking’s “necessary” justification echoes a disturbing pattern in elder spousal homicides across America. Perpetrators frequently frame these killings as merciful acts, but this narrative conveniently ignores a crucial question: did Patty want to die? No evidence suggests she consented to her husband’s deadly solution to their health challenges.
California’s End of Life Option Act provides legal pathways for terminally ill patients to end their suffering, but these protections require physician involvement, strict procedures, and most importantly, the patient’s informed consent. Hocking bypassed every safeguard designed to protect vulnerable individuals from precisely this type of decision made on their behalf.
Justice Confronts Advanced Age
Hocking now sits in jail without bail, facing murder charges that could theoretically result in life imprisonment for a 93-year-old defendant. His advanced age presents unique challenges for the justice system. Can someone his age be competent to stand trial? How does the state incarcerate a nonagenarian with serious health issues? These practical questions don’t diminish the severity of the alleged crime.
The case will likely hinge on mental competency evaluations and whether Hocking’s defense team pursues diminished capacity arguments. However, his month of premeditation and methodical execution suggest a man who understood exactly what he was doing, regardless of his misguided belief that killing was the compassionate choice.
