NORRISTOWN — A man from Perkiomen Township pleaded not guilty to charges connected to the alleged shooting of his mother and brother in his home.
Aaron Eslie Deshong, 49, from the 700 block of Gravel Pike, skipped the arraignment and pleaded not guilty to charges of first- and third-degree murder and possessing a weapon in connection with the shootings of his mother, Wanda Deshong, 74, who lived with him, and his brother, Adam Deshong, 53, of Devon, Chester County, on Sept. 24, 2023.
Judge William R. Carpenter scheduled a “homicide status conference” with the lawyers to set Deshong’s trial date.
Deputy District Attorney Thomas W. McGoldrick and co-prosecutor Libby Hemler are handling the case. Defense lawyer Gregory DiPippo was appointed to represent Deshong.
Deshong will be held without bail until the trial.
Autopsies revealed Wanda Deshong died from a gunshot wound to the head and Adam Deshong died from multiple gunshot wounds. Both deaths were ruled as homicides.
Authorities found a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver, registered to Deshong, in his basement bedroom closet.
The investigation began around 5 p.m. on Sept. 24 after a man called the FBI and suggested he harmed his family. Deshong told an FBI examiner that he is not suicidal and does not trust local law enforcement, according to the criminal complaint.
“Deshong said he has two shotguns, two rifles and a pistol. The pistol is with him, and the other guns are locked away. He said his family members are in the kitchen and alluded to hurting them,
When asked if his mother and brother were unharmed, Deshong allegedly kept answering, “that’s a good question.”
The FBI informed state police at Skippack, and troopers were sent to the home. They were told Deshong “was present at the address and may be armed with a pistol,” according to the criminal complaint.
The troopers were advised that Deshong’s brother and mother were present and may be injured,
Troopers saw Deshong in the garage area and detained him.
“Troopers searched the home and found a dead man and woman in the kitchen, surrounded by blood. They also found a fired projectile on the kitchen floor,
Aaron Deshong (Courtesy of Montgomery County District Attorney)
It was discovered that Deshong bought a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson gun on July 13, 2004 after checking records.
With a warrant, detectives searched the house and found the .38-caliber firearm in a basement bedroom closet. A criminal complaint states that they discovered four used casings and two live rounds in the cylinder.
The reason for the alleged fatal shootings has not been disclosed by the authorities.
