Man allegedly kills wife, daughter with ax and saw

Fear of becoming homeless a motive

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On March 25, the Englewood Police Department arrested Reginald Maclaren, 81, after he allegedly killed his wife and adult daughter with an ax to prevent them from becoming homeless.

Police documents say he was arrested on multiple charges, including murder in the rst degree and a weapons charge.

According to the arrest a davit, Maclaren allegedly admitted to killing his wife, Bethany Maclaren, 70, and daughter, Ruth Maclaren, 35, because his family was running out of money and would not be able to a ord their home anymore.

Maclaren went to the emergency department at Swedish Medical Center on the evening of March 25, where he waived his Miranda rights and shared information with the police, documents say.

In this interview with detectives, Maclaren allegedly said his family would have had to vacate their apartment on March 25, and they had nowhere to live afterwards because they had no money, documents say.

He was allegedly previously employed at Hospital Shared Services and worked frequently with the homeless population. According to authorities he said being homeless was a miserable life.

Maclaren allegedly began planning to kill his family approximately 10 days ago, according to police documents. Investigators say he bought an ax, two large trash cans and a hand saw at Home Depot and stored these items in his apartment.

At approximately 6:03 p.m. on the day of the murders, police say they received a call from Maclaren stating that he thought his wife and daughter had been killed with a hammer.

When o cers entered the residence at 901 Englewood Parkway, they found the two victims inside large trash cans in the living room/ kitchen area. According to police, both victims had substantial visible injuries.

Maclaren allegedly struck his wife and daughter in the head that morning with the ax while they were sitting on the couch, making them unconscious, according to police documents. He then allegedly struck each in the head with the ax two more times. e a davit says he then sawed their arms and legs o to make them t in the trash cans.

Englewood detectives, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Crime Scene Unit and the Arapahoe County Coroner’s O ce conducted a homicide investigation at the scene of the crime.

Maclaren allegedly said he does not regret killing his family because he “knows they are in a better place.”

Police documents say Maclaren being held without a bond. He appeared in Arapahoe County District Court this week to hear the charges led against him.