Metallica Rose Harrison waived her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in the stabbing deaths of her husband and 3-year-old son at Great Wolf Lodge in Pocono Township, sending the case toward trial in Monroe County.

Harrison, 27, of Towanda, appeared virtually Nov. 3 before District Judge Daniel Kresge at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, according to WNEP and LehighValleyLive.

She is charged with two counts of criminal homicide in the Oct. 12 deaths of her husband, Charles "Chaz" Harrison, 36, and their young son, Tristan.

During the brief hearing, Harrison showed no emotion and stared straight ahead, LehighValleyLive reported. When asked whether she understood her rights and what it meant to waive the hearing, she responded, "I understand, Your Honor," and "I do, Your Honor."

Monroe County Chief Public Defender Jason LaBar, who represents Harrison, declined to comment after the hearing, according to the news outlet. A small group of people appeared in court in support of the victims but did not speak during the proceedings.

By waiving the preliminary hearing, Harrison gave up the opportunity for prosecutors to present evidence at that stage of the case. The charges will proceed through the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas.

District attorney says investigation continues

Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso said the investigation remains active, with Pocono Township police continuing to review evidence.

Authorities are "learning something new every day," Mancuso said after Tuesday's hearing, according to WNEP. He did not provide additional details.

Mancuso previously described the case as a developing investigation during an Oct. 13 news conference, according to The Pocono Record.

Authorities have not publicly identified a possible motive.

What police say happened

The Harrison family checked into Great Wolf Lodge on Sept. 21, and their reservation was extended to Oct. 13, according to information from Pocono Township police detailed in an WVIA report based on the arrest affidavit.

Police were dispatched to the resort at about 3:13 p.m. Oct. 12 after a 911 call from Harrison, who reported that she was suicidal and needed help, according to the affidavit.

Officers found Harrison with cuts on her wrist and injuries to her neck. Inside the guest room, they found her husband and son dead on separate mattresses, the affidavit stated.

Harrison was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Monroe Campus for treatment of what police described as minor self-inflicted injuries. She was later arrested and charged in the deaths.

Investigators found two knives in the room, including a large butcher knife and a smaller knife. According to the affidavit, the knives matched ones at the family's home in Towanda.

The family had been staying at the resort for more than three weeks when the killings occurred, with the deaths happening one day before their scheduled checkout, LehighValleyLive reported.

Coroner's findings differed from initial police account

Monroe County Coroner Tom Yanac ruled both deaths homicides after autopsies, but the final findings differed from the initial descriptions of the victims' wounds provided by police.

In an Oct. 16 report, LehighValleyLive said police and prosecutors had initially described Charles Harrison as having multiple stab wounds and the child as having a single stab wound to the chest.

The coroner's office later reported the opposite: the 3-year-old sustained multiple stab wounds to the chest, while Charles Harrison suffered a single stab wound to the chest. Yanac ruled the manner of death in both cases homicide.

Monroe County District Attorney Michael Mancuso told LehighValleyLive that the initial descriptions were based on visual assessments at the scene, while the coroner's findings followed examinations of the bodies during the autopsies.

Toxicology testing was also pending at the time of the report, according to the outlet.

What comes next

Harrison is due back in court for a formal arraignment tentatively scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 7, 2027, in the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas in Stroudsburg, according to LehighValleyLive.

The charges are allegations, and Harrison is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.