Newton man beats wife to death in their home, police say

Richard Hanson, 64, was charged with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury after police found his wife, Nancy with "apparent blunt force injuries" at their 66 Brookline St. home last night, police and the Middlesex County District Attorney's office report.

She was rushed to a Boston hospital, where she died, officials say, adding Hanson will now face additional charges. According to officials:

Yesterday, at approximately 8:21 p.m. a juvenile inside the home called 911 to report the ongoing assault. ... The preliminary investigation suggests that during the physical altercation Richard Hanson allegedly struck his wife with one or more objects multiple times. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the death a homicide and the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Mayor Ruthanne Fuller writes:

I am writing this just three weeks after the tragic murders of Jill and Bruno D’Amore and Jill’s mother, Lucia Arpino. Our community is reeling, and I know so many of us are feeling unsettled. This is the time to reach out to family, friends, faith leaders and mental health professionals rather than hunkering down and going it alone.

Innocent, etc.