Thread: 14-year-old student held without bail in slaying of Danvers High teacher

14-year-old student held without bail in slaying of Danvers High Teacher

By John R. Ellement, Kathy McCabe, Peter Schworm and Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

A 24-year-old Danvers High School teacher has been found dead, and a 14-year-old boy is being held without bail on a charge of murdering her.

Math teacher Colleen Ritzer’s body was found in the woods behind the school, said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Philip D. Chism was ordered held without bail at his arraignment this afternoon in Salem District Court. Judge Matthew Nestor approved funds for a mental competency evaluation. Chism is to be tried as an adult; a probable cause hearing was slated for Nov. 22.

Chism had been reported missing Tuesday after he did not return home from school. Ritzer was reported missing at about 11:20 p.m. Tuesday when she did not return home and did not answer her cellphone.

Police searched the school and found blood in a second-floor bathroom. Ritzer’s body was found later behind the school, Blodgett said in a news conference this morning at the high school.

“She was a very, very, respected, loved teacher. ... It’s a terrible tragedy for the entire Danvers community,” Blodgett said.

Chism was found by police in the neighboring community of Topsfield at 12:30 a.m. today walking north on the southbound side of Route 1, Blodgett said.

He said authorities had no reason to believe there were any other suspects.

In the morning news conference, he did not identify Chism, citing state law protecting the records of juvenile offenders. He also released few further details of the investigation, declining to comment on whether the suspect knew Ritzer, when the suspect was linked to the teacher’s slaying, and how Ritzer died.

No further details were released at the arraignment. With his mother in the gallery, the tall, lanky boy with close-cropped hair, stood quietly during the proceeding, wearing a jail-issued white jumpsuit.

But police said in a report filed today in court that the charges came after an interview of Chism and a review of video surveillance footage recovered at the school.

The evidence indicated that Chism “assaulted and subsequently murdered Colleen Ritzer and disposed of her body near the high school grounds,” the report said.

The report also said corroborating evidence was found at “multiple scenes at the Danvers High School and surrounding wooded area.”

Police said the investigation was launched after both Ritzer and Chism were reported missing. The report also said, “Ritzer and the juvenile are known to each other from the school.”

Danvers police issued a tweet at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, saying they were looking for Chism. Chism had recently relocated to Danvers from Tennessee, police said on their Facebook page. The posting said that he had last been seen at the Hollywood Hits theater on Endicott Street around 6:30 p.m. Police tweeted at 7:16 a.m. today that Chism had been found safe.

According to teammates, Chism is the leading scorer for the school’s junior varsity team as a striker. The teammates said that on Tuesday, Chism failed to make the team practice at 4 p.m. and also missed a regular team dinner that is usually held at 6 p.m. at a teammate’s home.

Four members of the team said in an interview that Chism was amiable, hard-working, pleasant, and had managed to collect some friends around him in his first months in a new school. They described him as about 6 feet tall, with a love of soccer.

Ritzer, a math teacher, was a young woman with a smile who had always wanted to lead a classroom, a long-time neighbor said this morning.

“She was gentle, with a big smile,” said Mary Duffy, who has lived next door to Colleen Ritzer’s family in Andover for more than two decades. “It makes no sense.”

The Ritzer family issued a statement this afternoon, saying, “At this time we are mourning the tragic death of our amazing, beautiful daughter and sister. Everyone that knew and loved Colleen knew of her passion, her teaching and how she mentored each and every one of her students.” The family also asked people to respect their privacy and thanked the public for their thoughts and prayers.

Ritzer was a 2007 graduate of Andover High School. She received a bachelor’s in 2011 from Assumption College in Worcester. She had taken graduate-level courses at Salem State University.

All classes in Danvers public schools were canceled this morning due to the investigation. The academic wing of the school is blocked off with crime scene tape.

Town officials called parents at about 4:45 a.m. today, saying only that there was a police presence at the school and schools were canceled.

Sitting in a car parked across from the school, two students said they were stunned and terrified to hear what had happened.

“We are all terrified. It’s very scary,” said Caitlin McBride, a junior. “No one will ever look at this school the same way anymore.”

McBride said she received a text this morning, saying the school was closed.

“I didn’t know what to do,” said Kendall Meehan. “It’s all very scary. It’s not something you see around here.”

Both students said they didn’t know the 14-year-old who was reported missing.

Globe correspondent Jasper Craven and Maria Cramer of the Globe staff contri

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013....PaO8kpne.dpuf

BREAKING NEWS

MURDER CHARGE FOR BOY IN TEACHER'S DEATH



Colleen Ritzer's body found in woods near school

Philip Chism, 14, was arraigned today on a murder charge in the death of Ritzer, a teacher at Danvers High School near Boston. FULL STORY

• Blood was found in bathroom
• Debate unfolds after teacher deaths

Student charged with beating teacher to death

http://nypost.com/2013/10/23/14-year...pse-at-school/

Box cutter used to kill Massachusetts teacher, sources say

RELATED

http://www.alipac.us/f19/why-do-kids...stions-290854/

14-Year-Old Philip Chism Raped His 24-Year-Old Teacher With "An Object" Before Slitting Her Throat

The murder of 24-year-old Massachusetts high school teacher Colleen Ritzer on October 22nd, exactly one month ago, sent shock waves across the country. The murder was so horrifying because it was committed by a 14-year-old student named Philip Chism. The circumstances of the crime are even more chilling, in that Ritzer had asked Chism to stay after school so she could help him prepare for an upcoming math exam, but Philip Chism had other plans. He intended to kill Ms. Ritzer in the most vicious way possible, and he had all the necessary tools with him. The mere thought that a seemingly normal 14-year-old boy could be capable of such a sexually explicit and horrific, premeditated crime is bone chilling.

14 year old Philip Chism in court

America, this is an indictment. Philip Chism is a product of a violent and sexually charged culture. Sin is a sickness, and for it there is only one cure. Without Jesus Christ, there is only death and Hell. For a 14-year old boy to imagine rape with an object and murder, and then to carry it out, is proof positive that American culture is a vile cesspool, but he must shoulder the blame.

Philip Chism is in court today, and the details of the crime are more sinister and vile than previously believed. It was known before the court proceedings that Chism had killed Ritzer and hid her body in the woods behind the school. Before the court proceedings, the sexual torture that Ritzer experienced at the hands of Chism wasn't known. However, now the full details of the crime are being made known to the public, and it is much worse than anyone could possibly imagine.

A note found near the brutalized body of a beloved Massachusetts teacher who police said was raped and killed by one of her students read, “I hate you all.”

Philip Chism, the 14-year-old accused killer, came to Danvers High School on Oct. 22 equipped to kill, the papers showed. He allegedly brought a box cutter, mask, gloves and several changes of clothing.

Colleen Ritzer

This was premeditated murder. To think that a 14-year-old boy would bring a box cutter, mask, and clothing change to school for the purpose of murdering his teacher is more than one can process. Box cutters are crudely fashioned. This is the weapon of terrorists. The mere mention of a box cutter is a reminder of what the Islamic hijackers used on 9/11. Yet, this was what Chism had determined as his weapon of choice when killing his teacher. It's sickening.

Chism had followed Ritzer and put "on gloves and a hood as he followed the unsuspecting teacher to a second-floor bathroom." This was all captured by surveillance cameras.

There, investigators said, Chism punched Ratzer in the face, raped her with “an object,” and slit her throat with the box cutter.

Ritzer had innocently gotten up from the tutoring session to use the bathroom. Chism followed her with the intent of sexually torturing her and killing her with a box cutter. It is believed she suffered near fatal torture before her throat was slit. How is a 14-year-old capable of such atrocity? To murder the beautiful young woman was horrific enough, but to know that she was sexually tortured by this young man, before he killed her, is too repulsive to comprehend.

However, it gets worse. After brutalizing her in the most horrific, unspeakable way, he robs her dead body.

Chism robbed Ratzer of her credit cards, iPhone, and her underwear, they said. Then he wheeled her body out of the school in a a recycling bin and dumped her body in the woods, where he covered her with leaves, authorities said.

Chism was spotted leaving a movie theater about 6:30 p.m. on the day Ritzer was killed, then picked up by police as he walked along a highway in a neighboring town six hours later. Police said they believe Ritzer died sometime after the school day ended at 2 p.m., but they have not said exactly when.

He massacres the young woman, dumps her body, robs her, and then goes to a movie. Philip Chism is barely a teenager and he is committed a crime this cold without a moments regret or remorse. What does this say about America? It says everything. It says we are dead, both physically and spiritually. We have lost our souls and we've become animals.

Collen Ritzer was a young teacher with a promising future and a family who loved her dearly. By all accounts, she was dedicated to her job and she loved her students. She cared about her students, and noticed Philip Chism needed some guidance before an upcoming exam, and he took her life for no reason.

The teen was charged as a juvenile with aggravated rape and armed robbery. He is being held at a Department of Youth Services lockup.

Ritzer’s family released a statement after the indictment was announced. “We are devastated and heartbroken by the details of the horrific circumstances surrounding the death of our beautiful daughter and sister, Colleen," the family said.

There is no motive in this case. If there was, it wouldn't matter. There is nothing that could justify a crime of this magnitude. Colleen Ritzer's life was snuffed out by the very individual she was seeking to guide. Philip Chism is apparently a cold, calculating, sexual deviant, and he isn't even old enough to have his driver's permit. This is American culture put under the most damning spotlight.

Read more at http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/11/14...ACvQXcS4QZU.99

Massachusetts teen accused of killing teacher may have recorded murder, report says

Published January 28, 2014
FoxNews.com

Newly released court documents suggest a Massachusetts teen accused of murdering his 24-year-old math teacher may have recorded the killing on his cell phone, MyFoxBoston.com reported.

Philip Chism is accused of raping and killing Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer after she asked him to stay after school for help.
The 15-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and aggravated rape.

Police say a Massachusetts teen admitted killing the 24-year-old math teacher whose body was found in the woods near the school in October.

In search warrant documents for Chism's phone, state police say Chism admitted killing Ritzer but denied having sexual contact with her.

State police say they want to examine Chism's phone because it is not unusual for people involved in sexually violent homicides to memorialize the deaths "for further humiliation of the victim."

Investigators applying for a search warrant for Philip Chism's phone alleged the 15-year-old may have recorded evidence related to Colleen Ritzer's death on his phone before smashing the device and throwing it away, MyFoxBoston.com reported.

Officials claim Chism admitted to killing Ritzer and told them he destroyed both their phones so that he couldn't be tracked.

"I destroyed them so that you would be unable to locate or track me due to the GPS capabilities of the phone," Chism is quoted as saying in court documents.

Investigators said Chism's explanation for destroying his phone seems doubtful, saying it is widely understood that GPS capabilities can be disabled without breaking the device.

Ritzer's body was found with her throat slit and a note reading, "I hate you all."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/28/massachusetts-teen-accused-killing-teacher-may-have-recorded-murder-report-says/?intcmp=trending