Filipina, 75, murdered in upstate NY by angry in-law

The 75-year-old grandmother Perla Gatchalian was shot to death in a murder suicide at her daughter’s family home in this town in upstate New York.

SAN FRANCISCO — A man found dead in an apparent suicide in Harrison, New York was responsible for the death of an elderly Filipina in Mahopac, according to police.

Perla Gatchalian, 75, was found by a neighbor in her Coventry Circle home on April 27 at 3:18 p.m. after the neighbor went to check on her. She died from an apparent gunshot wound.
The Carmel Police Department confirmed Wednesday, May 3, that 69-year-old Filippo Buffone, who killed himself Tuesday, murdered Gatchalian. Police believe Buffone was angry about a financial dispute. He was found dead with a gunshot wound in the head in a car in a social club parking lot.

Buffone’s son is married to Gatchalian’s daughter. Gatchalian lived with her daughter’s family and looked after her three grandchildren.

Buffone was identified as the prime suspect within 24 hours of Gatchalian’s death. Police recovered the suspected murder weapon off the Route 6 corridor in Yorktown on Tuesday.