Richard Hayden: Georgia husband accused of killing wife by hitting her multiple times with a hammer at retirement home

Lawrenceville's Richard Hayden, 81, was arrested and charged with felony murder in the death of his 71-year-old wife, Grace Hayden
PUBLISHED FEB 10, 2024
Gwinnett County Police found Richard Hayden's wife dead in their home at a Lawrenceville retirement home (Gwinnett County Police)
Gwinnett County Police found Richard Hayden's wife dead in their home at a Lawrenceville retirement home (Gwinnett County Police)

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA: Richard Hayden, 81, from Lawrenceville, has been accused of murdering his wife at the retirement facility where they resided, as per Fox News.

Richard apparently struck his wife, Grace Hayden, 71, multiple times in the head with a hammer, causing severe injuries that led to her death.

Gwinnett County Police promptly arrested the husband on Wednesday, February 7, and charged him with felony murder, malice murder, and aggravated assault.



 

Police found the lifeless body of Grace Hayden inside her room at a retirement facility

Around 10 am on Tuesday, officers from the East Precinct were called to Linwood Estates Gracious Retirement Living, situated at 1611 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. They discovered Grace dead inside her room at the facility.

Police also mentioned that Richard Hayden was undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital for reasons unrelated to the incident before charges were filed against him.

The cause of death will be determined by the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner's Office, while the motive behind the apparent killing remains under investigation.

Once released from the hospital, Richard is expected to be transferred to Gwinnett County Jail.

A man was arrested for allegedly killing his wife with a hammer at the Linwood Estates retirement complex in Gwinnett County (Fox5)
Grace Hayden was apparently killed by her husband,  Richard Hayden, inside their room at the Linwood Estates Gracious Retirement Living (Fox5)

Gwinnett County Police say Grace Hayden's death is likely a domestic incident

Detectives probing Grace's death believe it's linked to a domestic incident, as per TrueCrimeDaily.

Gwinnett County Police Corp Juan Madiedo said, "It is believed to be a domestic-related incident between the couple that lived in the same room."

Crime scene units and detectives continue to examine the area.

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