Ryan Hosso, 26, Confesses to Killing Wife Before Shooting Himself in Woods, Police Say

 A 25-year-old woman was found shot to death in her home early Tuesday morning in an apparent murder-suicide that ended with her husband taking his own life in nearby woods, Pennsylvania State Police said. Madeline Spatafore was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds inside a residence on Graywyck Drive in Seven Fields, Butler County, in a case that has stunned the Pittsburgh suburbs and left neighbors in disbelief.

According to Trooper Bertha Cazy, state police public information officer, the incident began around 1:15 a.m. when Spatafore's husband, Ryan Hosso, 26, called his parents and confessed to killing his wife. Northern Regional Police received the urgent call from Hosso's parents, who reported their son had admitted to the killing and was in a wooded area nearby threatening suicide.

Officers responded quickly to the home and discovered Spatafore dead inside. Police then launched an extensive search of the surrounding area and found Hosso dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a wooded area behind the residence in neighboring Cranberry Township, authorities said. The two scenes were secured within hours and processed for evidence.

Northern Regional Police Department Chief Bryan DeWick said the incident appears to be domestic in nature and involved a husband and wife. He confirmed there is no ongoing threat to public safety and that investigators are working to determine a motive and any prior history that may have preceded the violence, including any previous police contacts or reports.

Spatafore was a Neurovascular Critical Care Physician Assistant at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, a role she had held since November 2024. She graduated from Seneca Valley High School before proceeding to Duquesne University, where she was a member of the honors college and pursued a demanding medical career focused on helping critically ill patients.

Friends and colleagues described Spatafore as dedicated, compassionate, and bright, with a career focused on caring for critically ill patients in one of the region's busiest hospitals. Her death has left coworkers at UPMC and former classmates reeling, with tributes highlighting her commitment to medicine, her intelligence, her work ethic, and her kindness toward patients and families during their most difficult and vulnerable moments.

The investigation remains active as state police and Northern Regional Police process evidence from both scenes, including firearms evidence, cell phone records, and digital communications. Authorities have not released details about the weapon used or any prior reports of domestic issues, and they are asking anyone with information about the couple to contact investigators to help establish a complete timeline.

Community members are mourning Spatafore while grappling with the shock of domestic violence ending in tragedy in a quiet suburban neighborhood. For anyone experiencing relationship violence or thoughts of harm, resources are available immediately, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788, and the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 for confidential support day or night.