Search continues for Gardner man wanted in connection with wife’s death after car found in woods

The search for a Gardner man wanted in connection with the death of his wife is continuing Tuesday after police on Monday evening found his car abandoned in the woods at a campground.

Police: Gardner couple had marital problems before Breanne Pennington was found fatally shot in home

The manhunt for Aaron Pennington, 33, prompted a shelter-in-place order in Gardner. That order came moments after officers discovered Pennington’s white BMW in the woods of the Collier Campground.

“It’s kind of petrifying, to be honest with you. Like I said It’s fairly quiet around here and we are friendly. You hardly ever see cops on this road,” said Melissa Zirkle who lives near Collier Campground on Kelton Street.

Shelter-in-place order lifted after search for Gardner man wanted for questioning in wife’s murder

Zirkle told Boston 25 that it’s usually a very quiet street.

“When I left about 5 o’clock I saw a couple of cruisers and parked cars and I called my husband and said there’s a bunch of parked cars on the road and we thought because it was hunting season that maybe somebody got hurt in the woods,” she said.

Pennington is the focus of a nationwide manhunt after police found his wife’s body inside their Cherry Street home on Sunday.

The woman was identified as 30-year-old Breanne Pennington.

Woman found dead inside Gardner home identified, authorities still searching for Aaron Pennington

The Worcester District Attorney’s Office says their four children, who are now in DCF custody, were inside and unharmed when Breanne’s death occurred.

Anyone with information on Pennington’s whereabouts is urged to contact police.

Police said there will be a heavy emergency presence in the area of the campground on Tuesday out of what they called an abundance of caution.

‘Be on alert’: Man wanted for questioning after death of woman inside Gardner home, DA says