Police manhunt in woods continues for Gardner man suspected of killing wife

Massachusetts State Police say they expect to resume scouring roughly 400 acres of woods in Gardner Wednesday morning for a man suspected of shooting and killing his wife three days ago.

Investigators are searching for Aaron Pennington, 33, of Gardner. His wife, Breanna Pennington, 30, was found dead from a gunshot wound to her face at the family's home Sunday.

Police said the public should consider Aaron Pennington to be armed and dangerous, report any sightings of him to police and avoid contact with him. Police described him as 6 feet, 2 inches tall and blonde with blue eyes, according to media reports.

Local and state police are focused on the wooded area known as Camp Collier, a land trust used by Boy Scouts and church groups for getaways, Gardner Police Chief Eric McAvene said at a news conference near the woods Tuesday.

A BMW car belonging to Pennington was found nearby and unoccupied by a hunter Monday. State police posted to social media Tuesday evening investigators were suspending their search and would resume the manhunt Wednesday morning.

Gardner temporarily issued a shelter-in-place order Monday for a neighborhood near the woods after his car was initially found.

“We're asking anyone with trail cams, any hunters, any people with video cameras at their houses, please, give it to the police," Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said at the news conference. "We're asking the public for all their help."

The couple had four school-age children, who were now in the custody of the state, Early said. City property records show Aaron Pennington owned the family's home since June 2022.

Information from the WBUR newsroom was included in this report.