Search for man suspected of killing wife intensifies deep in Gardner woods

GARDNER, Mass. — The search for Aaron Pennington, the man who is suspected of killing his wife, intensified Tuesday deep in the woods of Gardner.

Search operations to capture Pennington, 33, will resume on Wednesday morning after crews concluded an exhaustive search on Tuesday night, state police said. The target area for the search is approximately 175 acres.

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Gardner woods

Members of the State Police Special Response Team, the State Police Tactical Operations Response Team, the Violent Fugitives Apprehension Section, state police K9 units, and Gardner and Ashburnham police spent Tuesday scouring a vast, 400-acre tract of woods where Pennington’s white BMW was found on Monday afternoon near Camp Collier.

DA Early provides update as manhunt for Gardner murder suspect continues

The car was first discovered by a bow hunter, according to Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early. The belief is that he is still alive, armed, and dangerous.

“We’re still treating this like he is alive and would be somewhere in the woods,” Early said Tuesday.

Investigators want to talk with Pennigton about the shooting death of his 30-year-old wife, Breanne Pennington, whose body was found in their Cherry Street home shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday.

Court documents show the couple was having marital issues and that Breanne was planning to move to Texas with their four children. They also revealed that after the shooting, the kids ran to a neighbor’s for help as their father fled the neighborhood.

Police: Gardner couple had marital problems before Breanne Pennington was found fatally shot in home

The search radius is very sparse and heavily wooded, and crews can go a long way without seeing anything.

“It’s very heavily wooded, sparse... the grid search is large at this point in time,” Gardner Police Chief Eric McAvene said. “We’re operating under the assumption that he is still alive and on the run.”

Police are conducting line searches in hundreds of acres of woods to try to locate Pennington and have asked hunters to check trail cameras.

On Tuesday evening, along Winchendon Road in the neighboring Ashburnham, state police checked the woods due north of Camp Collier. They emerged with evidence bags but not Pennington.

Police want the public to be on the lookout.

Gardner death investigation (Worcester County District Attorney's Office)

“Be vigilant. Pay attention to your surroundings and report anything immediately to the police,” Chief McAvene added.

Pennington should be considered armed and dangerous, and the public should not approach him or try to search for him but rather call 911 immediately.

Authorities described Pennington as a white male with blonde hair, and blue eyes, standing 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and weighing approximately 175 pounds.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Gardner police or state police.

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