Snapped is investigating the murder of mother and daughter Pamela and Helen Hargan by Helen’s sister Megan Hargan, who gunned down her family members at their home in McLean, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC.
On July 14, 2017, Megan used her husband’s .22 rifle to shoot dead her mother, 63-year-old Pamela, before she went upstairs and killed her sister, 24-year-old Helen.
The twisted killer then staged the scene to look like a murder-suicide.
The cops initially believed Helen had gunned down her mother before turning the gun on herself. However, as the investigation progressed, they began to suspect Megan was actually the murderer.
Investigators learned that Megan was angry at her mother, Pamela, because she was allegedly providing Helen with funds to help the younger sister purchase a house. Megan was also hoping to buy a home in West Virginia but was not receiving financial aid from her mother.
The day before the murders, Megan had tried to transfer $400,000 from her mother’s bank account to herself. The transaction was flagged as fraud and failed to occur. Megan tried again to transfer the money after the murders.
First murder conviction against Megan Hargan vacated
Megan was arrested in November 2018 and was first convicted of murder in November 2022. However, that conviction was thrown out due to juror misconduct. A juror admitted to using a rifle at their home to determine if it was physically possible for Helen to have killed herself; this was deemed outside research, which is forbidden under court rules.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelA second trial in September 2023 led to another conviction for two counts of first-degree murder. She subsequently received two life sentences.
She is currently incarcerated at the Fluvanna Women’s Correctional Center in Troy, VA.
VA Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano spoke about the ‘resolve’ needed to close Megan Hargan murder case
After the sentencing, Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said in a statement, “Megan Hargan’s actions in July 2017 go beyond what most of us can imagine. On a quiet Friday morning in her mother’s home, she made an irreversible decision – one that would devastate her family and tear the community apart.”
“First-degree murder is the most serious offense you can be convicted of in Virginia, and today’s sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant’s crimes,” added the attorney.
Descano also expressed his gratitude to detectives, witnesses, and family members who showed great “resolve” to work through an emotional and difficult case.
Megan continues to maintain her innocence.
Snapped airs Sundays at 6/5c on Oxygen.