Horsham mom charged with killing son, fleeing to Jersey shore. Here's what we know

Editor's Note: On Friday, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office confirmed that Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead had arrived at the county correctional facility. She was scheduled to be arraigned Friday evening on charges of first and third degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime. No bail is available for first-degree murder charges.

A Horsham mother is charged with killing her 11-year-old son because she did not want him to grow up with the struggle of the family's financial difficulties, according to authorities.

Montgomery County Detectives allege Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead, 50, strangled the boy and then fled to Cape May, New Jersey, where her SUV was found submerged in the ocean.

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What did police say Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead did to her son?

DiRienzo-Whitehead was arrested in Wildwood Crest not long after her 2019 Toyota Highlander was found submerged in the ocean in Cape May.

Her husband, Daniel Whitehead, found their son, Matthew Whitehead, dead in the master bedroom of their home off Privet Road about 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Matthew Whitehead had slept in the master bedroom the night before while his father slept in another room, which was not unusual, according to court documents.

When speaking to detectives, DiRienzo-Whitehead told them Matthew was upset and crying about their financial difficulties Monday night, police said. She did not want her son to grow up with these struggles, so she strangled him with her husband's belt while he slept, court documents allege.

She then drove the family's SUV to Cove Beach and into the ocean, police said. When the vehicle was not operable, she got out and walked to Wildwood Crest, where she was later found by police. A men's dress belt was found on the floor of the SUV, court documents state.

When Daniel Whitehead woke up in the morning, the master bedroom door was locked, and he had to force his way into the room, where he found his son dead, police said.

Before Tuesday, police had not been called to DiRienzo-Whitehead's home for any incidents, according to authorities.

Who is Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead?

“❤️Boy Mom” is the tagline on DiRienzo-Whitehead's Instagram social media profile.

Her smiling child, Matthew, with tussled, sandy blonde hair appears among the many posts promoting her career in real estate. She identified her son as a student at Germantown Academy and posted a photo of him in June celebrating his 11th birthday with tacos in Cape May.

A licensed real estate professional, DiRienzo-Whitehead helped dozens of young families find a home, and she appears in testimonials of homebuyers brimming with both promise and hope.

DiRienzo-Whitehead identified herself as a Realtor, however the National Association of Realtors on Wednesday said her membership is not active.

She worked in staging homes for potential buyers before her work as a licensed real estate professional at Keller-Williams, according to her online profiles. The Texas-based firm is among the largest real estate agencies in the U.S. with a large presence in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Only three weeks ago, DiRienzo-Whitehead posted on Instagram an image of her jubilant boy holding the family dog “Bailey.” On Facebook, she said she was a graduate of Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School and studied at Drexel University.

Other posts capture only the waves at the Jersey Shore, where her car would be discovered this week. Property records show the family owned property in Wildwood Crest.

The DiRienzo family has deep roots in the Philadelphia area. DiRienzo-Whitehead’s father worked at the Cardone Industries autoparts plant in North Philadelphia, raising Ruth and three siblings.

Who was Matthew Whitehead? 'An unfathomable loss'

Matthew was a sixth grade student at Germantown Academy in Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County.

In a statement Wednesday, the school said Matthew, who had attended the school since kindergarten, was an "extraordinary child" with a smile "as bright as the sun."

"We loved him, and we will forever mourn his loss, a devastating tragedy for our community, his family, his friends, and our world. We will do everything in our power to carry his memory forward, to honor him as he so truly deserves, and to live our lives well as a tribute to him," the statement reads in part. "Matthew is the embodiment of love, promise, and goodness, and we will never, ever forget him."

"In addition to this unfathomable loss, the circumstances are complicating our community’s grief. We are all struggling, and we ask you to respect our children and families’ privacy as we help them navigate through this tragedy."

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What's next in the case of Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead?

DiRienzo-Whitehead is currently in custody in New Jersey and is awaiting extradition back to Montgomery County. Once in Montgomery County, she will be arraigned on her charges. Homicide is a non-bailable offense in Pennsylvania so she will remain in custody.

After her arraignment, a preliminary hearing in the case will be scheduled. It has not been scheduled as of Wednesday morning.

She did not have an attorney listed for her.

Staff writer James McGinnis contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Ruth DiRienzo-Whitehead charged with murder in son's death in Horsham