Police Release Details Of 'Calculated' Radnor Murder-Suicide

RADNOR, PA – The murder-suicide that occurred in a Radnor Township home was a calculated attack, police said in a press conference Tuesday.

Meredith Sullivan Chapman, 33, was shot in the head by Jennair Gerardot, 47, of Wilmington, Delaware, Monday night inside Chapman's home on Lowrys Lane in Radnor's Rosemont section, police confirmed. Gerardot then took her own life after killing Chapman, according to authorities.

Radnor Police found two female bodies, both with gunshot wounds to the head, inside the home shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, April 23. Police said they believe Gerardot took some sort of public transportation to the home and broke into the home through the front door.

"She wore a wig, and took a train from Delaware to Radnor," Radnor Police Superintendent William Colarulo told Philly.com. "She broke into the victim’s house, and cleaned up the glass so the victim didn’t realize someone was in her home."

Police said Chapman, Gerardot and her husband Mark Gerardot were involved in some sort of domestic situation.

Upon arrival to the scene, police found Mark Gerardot. He said he believed his wife was inside.

Colarulo said at the press conference Tuesday that they believe Mark Gerardot was in Radnor to meet Chapman for dinner, but went to her home when she did not show up. Mark Gerardot has been working with authorities during the early investigation stages, police said.

He said emails and text messages indicate Jennair Gerardot had planned the killing.

Police found a .357-caliber revolver on the scene with two rounds missing from the gun. Authorities are working to determine if the firearm was legal.

Radnor's Ward 7 Commissioner Sean Farhy, whose ward covers the Lowrys Lane area, said on Facebook Monday night the two women died in a murder-suicide stemming from what may have been a love triangle.

Chapman recently moved into the home, according to WHYY, her former employer.

She worked as communications manager for Delaware Congressman Mike Castle and then joined the University of Delaware as its Senior Director for Marketing. She also was an Associate Consultant for the nonprofit group Ruffalo Noel Levitz.

She also is a former Delaware State senate candidate, WHYY said.

Chapman just joined Villanova about a week ago as the Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Creative Services.

"Villanova University was informed last night about the death of Meredith Chapman," the university said in a statement. "Our hearts are broken by the devastating loss of our new colleague. The thoughts and prayers of the entire University community are with her family, friends and colleagues during this extremely difficult time."

Police ensured the community at large is not in danger.

This marks the second murder-suicide in Radnor in just a few months' time.

Back in late January, Radnor Police and Delaware County authorities discovered a son and mother were involved in a murder suicide. Devon Byrd, 23, shot and killed his mother Alita Byrd, 50, before turning the weapon on himself at a Highland Avenue home on sometime around Jan. 31.

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