Background: Preston Health Center in Hilton Head, S.C. (Google Maps). Inset: Harriett Recker (Beaufort County Sheriff”s Office).

A South Carolina woman was charged with murder after police found her 81-year-old husband shot dead at an assisted living facility.

The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office revealed in a Facebook update that they arrested 82-year-old Harriett Kay Recker on Friday. Officers were dispatched to reports of a shooting at Preston Health Center located in the Cypress area of Hilton Head around 10:30 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered Dennis Recker, 81, wounded by gunfire in a room at the center. Harriett Recker was present “alongside her husband.”

The identity of Dennis Recker as the victim was confirmed by the Beaufort County Coroner on Monday, following the notification of his passing to his family. Harriett was originally detained on Friday and taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center, remaining listed on the inmate roster as of Monday afternoon.

Preston Health Center offers both short and long-term healthcare services, including specialized memory care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The identity of which of the spouses was a resident at the center was not disclosed.

Authorities stated that Dennis Recker received urgent medical treatment at the location, yet unfortunately, he did not survive his injuries. While the motive behind the shooting remains unclear, the investigation continues. Investigators assured that there is no further danger to the public following the incident.

Harriett Recker faces charges of murder and possession of a firearm during a violent offense. She is detained without the option of bail and was due for arraignment on Monday.