The retired White Plains police officer who fatally shot two daughters and three family dogs before killing himself had apparently been thinking about revenge against his wife for a few weeks. The Post reports that Glen Hochman had cut his wife, as well as his eldest daughter, out of his pension benefits.
While his wife Anamarie DiPietro-Hochman and daughter Samantha, 22, were on a weekend trip, Hochman, 52, killed his daughters early Saturday morning in their Harrison, NY home. It's believed that Alissa, 17, and Deanna, 13, were sleeping when he shot them, because they were in their beds. The dogs were also found dead. Hochman's body was discovered in the garage later in the day by Alissa's boyfriend, who was dispatched to check on the family when DiPietro-Hochman was unable to get in touch with anyone at the house.
Hochman had retired last month after 22 years with the White Plains police force. According to the Post, he "filed retirement papers on Jan. 30 — about three weeks before the bloodbath — that intentionally left them out, sources said."
“It’s the most selfish final insult,” said a family friend from Harrison. “It’s reckless and insulting for any man to leave their family high and dry like that, by choosing the zero option on their pension.
“But for him to do that and then kill his children, that’s pure evil. He effectively stole the future away from the family he left behind.”
The couple had reportedly discussed separation, and DiPietro had gone to the authorities last Friday about an argument she and Hochman had about an $80 cellphone bill. The Harrison police said that DiPietro-Hochman only wanted to report the incident, and that there was no violence.
The Post adds, "Sources said Anamarie... may be able to challenge the retirement papers, but that won’t solve her immediate financial problems for her and daughter Samantha."
Hochman left two notes behind, one at the home, which referenced the girls being "taken away," and another at the Windward School where he worked in security.
The community has raised about $85,000 for Hochman's survivors. A funeral for Alissa and Deanna Hochman will be held today.
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone; remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt; and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
