Delaware man charged in murder of his 72-year-old grandmother at Hyatt hotel

A man has been charged with murder after troopers said he assaulted his grandmother in a hotel room earlier this year in Lewes, Delaware.

Dempsey Fritchey, 30, had been initially charged with first-degree assault in connection with the death of his 72-year-old grandmother in early January. However, on May 1, Delaware State Police said Fritchey was indicted in mid-April for first-degree murder.

At approximately 5:45 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2026, troopers responded to the Hyatt House on Five Points Square in Lewes after a guest, later identified as Fritchey, told hotel staff that he had killed his grandmother in one of the hotel rooms, according to officials.

When troopers arrived, they spoke with Fritchey, who was near the lobby. According to officials, he told troopers that he may have killed his grandmother and was detained without incident.

Troopers then responded to the room and found the elderly woman, identified as Elizabeth Fritchey, unconscious and suffering from injuries to her face and head.

The woman was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and she died on Feb. 10, 2026.

Fritchey remains in the Delaware Department of Correction.

If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or has lost a loved one to a sudden death and needs assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461).