A father and his young son were found dead in their guest room at the Great Wolf Lodge—a popular indoor water park resort in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania—on the 12th. The mother, 27-year-old Metallica Rose Harrison, has been charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of her husband and their 3-year-old son. According to a Fox News report on the 15th, the defendant’s stepmother stated in an interview that the incident appears to have been premeditated, noting that Metallica had emptied her 401(k) retirement account prior to the trip.
The defendant’s stepmother, April Thetga, expressed her shock at the tragedy, suggesting it was a premeditated act, as Metallica had cleared out her 401(k) account before leaving for the vacation.
Thetga noted that the kitchen knife discovered by police at the scene was likely brought by Metallica from their home in Towanda. “This was absolutely premeditated—it’s just horrific,” she said.
The victims, Charles “Chaz” Harrison and his 3-year-old son, had been staying at the Great Wolf Lodge with Metallica; the family had planned for a three-week visit. According to the resort’s website, room rates vary from several hundred to as much as $2,000, depending on the type of accommodation. Police investigations reveal that the family checked in on September 21 and, on October 5, requested an extension of their stay until October 13.
Thetga questioned whether the couple—a working-class family—could have even afforded such an expensive vacation.
Charles worked for a cabinetry company, while Metallica was employed in the healthcare services sector.
Metallica is currently being held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania, with a judge denying her bail. According to a report by People magazine, police investigative records indicate that at 3:15 p.m. on the 12th, Metallika called 911, stating that she “intended to take her own life and needed help,” and added that both her husband and son had already died. During the call, she mentioned that she was too weak to use a knife to stab herself in the neck.
Upon arriving at the hotel room, officers discovered stab wounds on both Charles and the young boy. Two knives with teal-colored handles were found in the room. Hotel staff confirmed that these knives were not among those provided for use within the resort’s facilities.