Metallica Rose Harrison’s stepmother says the Pennsylvania mom financed a three-week Great Wolf Lodge getaway by draining her husband’s retirement fund before allegedly killing him and their toddler.
April Thetga told The Post that Harrison, 27, tapped husband Charles’ 401(k) to cover the Poconos resort trip — pitched as an early Christmas present for 3-year-old Tristan — plus a kitchen remodel and other expenses. The family found the sudden financial move “odd,” she said.
“It was definitely odd, but they’d taken their 401(k) out … There was nothing we could do about that,” Thetga said. She added that she didn’t know whether the couple had borrowed against the retirement account or withdrawn the money outright.
The strange financial choice didn’t raise major red flags for relatives, who had no idea anything was amiss. Thetga said the family even shared a cheerful video call with Harrison the day before Monday’s murders.
“She had called and we’re video chatting, and then she says she loved us very much, just like she normally would,” Thetga recalled.
The next day, cops found Charles and Tristan dead from multiple stab wounds after Harrison called 911 and asked for help ending her life.
The mom later raved to cops and paramedics about dreaming of a “happy family” and wanting to join her husband and son in death, according to an affidavit obtained by WNEP.
Before the trip, Harrison had posted cheerful family photos from past vacations on social media, giving no public hint of trouble.
Thetga described Charles Harrison as a devoted husband and father who rarely, if ever, lost his temper.
“He was a fantastic husband. She definitely got lucky when it came to him. He just was good. He was a good father. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him fight.”
Relatives still have no idea what could have caused the mom to snap. Thetga insisted the household appeared stable and loving to everyone who knew them.
“Absolutely it was a loving family. We’re just as shocked as everybody else. We’re not evil people. We want answers. They were always happy,” she said.
Harrison remains in custody following the Monday killings at the Poconos resort.