A Massachusetts man was charged on Tuesday for strangling his girlfriend earlier this month in an ordeal witnessed by the woman’s two young daughters.
On June 8, suspect Thadius McGrath’s mother called officers to Samantha Rementer’s apartment in Northampton amid concerns that McGrath, 35, was suicidal. Responding officers knocked on the door and were met by Rementer’s 5-year-old daughter who was covered in blood, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.
“(McGrath) killed mommy because she was annoying him and then (McGrath) shot himself accidentally,” the girl told police, per an affidavit.
Police ultimately found Rementer deceased on a floor of a bedroom that apparently belonged to her 2- and 5-year-old daughters. The Courier Times reported that a cord for a large floor lamp — which McGrath allegedly strangled her with — was found wrapped around her neck.
McGrath allegedly beat and killed Rementer. Afterward, he reportedly called his father to confess and tried to kill himself. Police officers found McGrath in a different bedroom with a gunshot wound to his face, the Philly Voice reported.
McGrath, who survived, told cops that Rementer had “made him mad” before he struck her with a step ladder and lamp and strangled her with the lamp cord, according to the Courier Times.
McGrath is reportedly married but not to the victim. The father of McGrath’s two children died of a heart attack in February 2021, her family told the Courier Times.
The news outlet reported that McGrath admitted to killing Rementer in front of her two daughters. McGrath said he did not stop strangling her until she turned purple and he was sure she was dead. Police officers found Rementer’s toddler daughter in a high chair. Both girls were unharmed.
The girls’ grandfather told the Courier Times that Rementer’s 5-year-old daughter bit McGrath during the deadly attack.
“Please stop. Please stop. You are killing my mom,” the older girl begged McGrath.
McGrath is charged with first- and third-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, and related offenses. The Courier Times reported that McGrath was due in court for possessing child pornography at the time of the slaying. He was arrested in May 2021 for the offense, and prosecutors were considering a plea deal, but the case was continued on June 13.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
[Featured image: Samantha Rementer/Facebook]
