Newton man accused of fatally beating wife with baseball bat held without bail

NEWTON, Mass. (WLNE) — The man accused of fatally beating his wife with a baseball bat in their home was held without bail after his arraignment on Monday.

According to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, 64-year-old Richard Hanson is charged with murder in connection to the death of his wife Nancy Hanson, 54.

Prosecutors said two 911 calls came in around 8:20 p.m., one from a child in the Brookline Street home and the other from a friend of Nancy who was on the phone with her when the assault began.

Prosecutors said that her friend heard the phone drop, followed by loud bangs and the kids screaming, “Dad stop, you’re killing her!”

When first responders arrived they found Richard in the driveway covered in blood, saying his wife had been cheating on him. The couple’s three sons, ages 11 to 17 were in the home.

In one of the bedrooms, officers said they found Nancy with a traumatic head wound, lying on the floor next to a bloodied baseball bat and barbell. She was taken to Brigham and Women’s Hospital where she later died.

Richard Hanson is scheduled to return to court in August.