Arizona trial set for 92-year-old charged with fatally shooting son

PHOENIX – The trial of a 92-year-old Arizona woman charged with the murder of her son has been slated to begin March 13 in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Anna Mae Blessing pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the July 2 shooting death of 72-year-old Thomas Blessing at their Fountain Hills home.

Authorities said Blessing was upset about her son’s plans to put her into an assisted living facility and that they argued several times about it.

On the day in question, offciers said, she hid two pistols in her robe before confronting her son over the matter. She pulled out a handgun and shot her son several times.

Thomas Blessing’s girlfriend managed to get both guns away from the older woman, but only after Anna Mae Blessing had pointed one of them at her after the shooting.

Anna Mae Blessing had been living with her son and his girlfriend for about six months, according to court records.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputies had been called to the home a handful of times previously, in the span of a month. They were aware there were firearms in the home.

“Both had expressed a concern that the other party could become violent,” Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone said a few days after the arrest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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