An elderly Fremont couple’s life ended in tragedy in the early hours of January 3, 2026, when 86-year-old Patricia M. Hocking was found dead from a gunshot wound in the front passenger seat of a Ford Transit van. Her 93-year-old husband, Richard Hocking, drove to the Fremont police department parking lot shortly after midnight and turned himself in, telling officers he had just shot his wife. A firearm was recovered from the vehicle and Patricia was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richard Hocking was taken into custody, gave a statement to detectives and reportedly said he had been planning to kill his wife for about a month because of her health problems; Patricia had diabetes and a prior kneecap injury. The Alameda County District Attorney charged Richard Hocking with murder, alleging he acted with malice and aforethought and including a sentencing enhancement for intentional use of a firearm. He is being held at Santa Rita Jail without bail and an arraignment has been set.

This is Fremont’s first homicide of 2026. Does anyone have information about the Hocking family or the circumstances leading up to that night?