Perkiomen man killed mother, brother due to anger and resentment, prosecutor says

The trial of Aaron Eslie Deshong, of Perkiomen Township, accused of killing his mother and brother, began Monday with the prosecutor alleging Deshong's actions were driven by long-standing resentment and anger.

Deshong, of the 700 block of Gravel Pike, is charged with first- and third-degree murder for allegedly shooting his mother, Wanda Deshong, 74, who lived with him, and his brother, Adam Deshong, 53, of Chester County, on Sept. 24, 2023.

Assistant District Attorney Libby Hemler claimed that Deshong, 50, believed his mother and brother were conspiring against him for over a decade. Hemler argued that this resentment culminated in the fatal shootings, with Deshong using his revolver to kill them, according to The Reporter.

In contrast, defense attorney Nicholas Reifsnyder argued that Deshong was not the murderer, emphasizing the lack of eyewitnesses, confessions, or evidence of deception. 

Reifsnyder argued that Deshong cooperated with detectives and that the crime scene showed no signs of being manipulated, per the report. He urged the jury to critically evaluate the prosecution's evidence, suggesting that even if Deshong were responsible, there was no proof of his specific intent to kill, a necessity for a first-degree murder conviction.

The trial, presided over by Judge William R. Carpenter, is expected to last at least three days. Deshong, showing no emotion in the courtroom, listened as grisly crime scene footage was displayed, capturing the jury's attention and eliciting tears from the victims' relatives, according to The Reporter.

Former Trooper Todd Wright testified about the crime scene and the evidence found, including a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver with four spent shell casings. 

Autopsies revealed that Wanda Deshong died from a gunshot wound to the head, while Adam Deshong suffered multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. 

The investigation began after a call from Deshong to an FBI National Threats Operation Center, hinting at harm to his family members and his distrust of local law enforcement.

The FBI relayed this information to state police, who subsequently detained Deshong at his home. 

Troopers found the victims lying in pools of blood in the kitchen, per the report. Deshong had reportedly purchased the firearm used in the incident years earlier and had been "living on the edge" since his father's death, according to court documents.

Life imprisonment is mandatory with a first-degree murder conviction, which means the crime was intentional. Deshong faces 20 to 40 years in prison on the third-degree murder charge, which implies he killed with malice (hate) or cruelty.

Read more on the trial here.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.