Great Wolf Lodge Murder-Mom Suspect Waives Preliminary Hearing

The Pennsylvania mother accused of stabbing her husband and 3-year-old son to death inside a Great Wolf Lodge hotel room has opted out of a preliminary hearing. This allows the tragic double-homicide case to move forward towards a trial.

Metallica Rose Harrison, 27, appeared virtually Tuesday, Nov. 3, before Magisterial District Judge Daniel Kresge at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, where she officially waived her right to a preliminary hearing. The decision means prosecutors will not have to present their evidence to establish that the case should proceed.

Harrison’s attorney, Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason A. LaBar, declined to comment following the brief proceeding, according to local media outlets that were present. A small group of people who appeared to be supporting the victims sat behind prosecutors but did not speak during the hearing.

Harrison faces two counts of criminal homicide in the Oct. 12 shocking deaths of her husband, Charles “Chaz” Harrison, 36, and their son, Tristan, inside Room 2030 at Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, Pennsylvania.

But Tuesday’s hearing wasn’t the only development. Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso corrected several details in the original probable-cause affidavit, including the number of stab wounds suffered by the couple’s young son. The original affidavit described Tristan as having one stab wound to his chest. However, an Oct. 20 filing from Mancuso reportedly moved to change that description to multiple stab wounds to the chest.

Unspeakable.

The reported correction is important because the original police account, previously reviewed by Los Angeles Magazine, described the child as having a single apparent chest wound. The revised description has been reported from the prosecutor’s letter, but it is not yet clear whether an amended affidavit has been formally accepted by the court.

Prosecutors also moved to correct a statement attributed to Harrison after the killings. As previously reported by Los Angeles Magazine, Harrison allegedly told investigators she was “suicidal, not stupid” when they attempted to question her at the hospital.

The District Attorney’s proposed correction changes that statement to “I’m suicidal, I’m not an idiot,” according to local outlet the Daily Voice.

The case has garnered national attention since the deaths at the popular Pocono Mountains water park resort. Court documents previously obtained by Los Angeles Magazine, the Harrisons checked into Great Wolf Lodge on Sept. 21 and extended their reservation on Oct. 5, with plans to check out Oct. 13.

Instead, on Oct. 12, police responded to a disturbing 911 call from Harrison, who allegedly told a dispatcher she needed help dying.

“I’m too weak to stab my neck,” Harrison allegedly said, according to the search warrant affidavit.

When asked about weapons, she reportedly acknowledged having knives and said, “That’s what I’ve been using and it’s not working.”

She also told the dispatcher that her husband and son were already gone, according to investigators, who noted that she did not request medical assistance for either victim. Officers arrived at the family’s room and discovered Charles and Tristan dead on separate mattresses on the floor. Harrison was found with injuries to her wrists and neck and transported to a hospital for treatment.

Investigators recovered two knives from the guest room, including a large butcher-style knife and a smaller steak knife. Resort employees reportedly told police the knives did not match those used by the hotel. A search of the family’s Towanda home uncovered even more unusual evidence.

Search warrants obtained by Los Angeles Magazine revealed that investigators seized 10 teal-colored knives, personal journals, financial records, a laptop and a safe. Police also discovered an electric shutoff notice posted on the family’s front door.

Detectives were examining the family’s finances and living arrangements, including why they had been staying at the resort for approximately three weeks. Yes…three weeks.

The warrants also documented troubling allegations made by Charles Harrison’s mother, Ann Harrison, and sister, Melissa Rivera, though still considered hearsay. Both women described Metallica as controlling and claimed she had increasingly isolated Charles and Tristan from relatives. Rivera also alleged that Harrison had expressed resentment toward her son and had previously said she never wanted to become pregnant.

Investigators also reviewed resort surveillance footage showing the couple visiting the arcade on the evening of Oct. 11. They returned to their room at approximately 11:22 p.m., according to the warrant affidavit. Police reported no additional door activity captured after that time.

The next afternoon, Harrison called 911.

Harrison was initially arraigned Oct. 13 and denied bail. Following Tuesday’s waiver, her case will proceed to Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. Her formal arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. in Stroudsburg.

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