on october 17, 1965, hargis's estranged wife, charlene june hargis, shot and killed the couple's four children, three daughters and one son, at their laurel, maryland apartment. the former congressman was living with another woman in vienna, virginia at the time. charlene hargis was charged with four counts of murder and pleaded insanity. while at spring grove hospital, she attempted suicide by slashing her wrists and had to be sedated. she was found guilty of lesser charges of manslaughter and was sentenced to four concurrent terms of ten years in prison.