Under the state’s juvenile sentencing laws, Chism will be eligible for parole in 15 to 25 years on the murder conviction, and 15 years on the rape
and robbery convictions, according to prosecutors. The Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Scholarship Fund has given out thousands of dollars in educational help to high school students in Danvers and Andover.
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Colleen Ritzer’s body was found near a MA high school on Wednesday, October 23, 2013.
“When Philip Chism followed Miss Ritzer into that bathroom, he was not himself”. Ritzer’s family members ask for privacy as they mourn their “amazing, handsome daughter and sister”.
Philip Chism, 16, was also found guilty of raping Danvers High teacher Colleen Ritzer in the high school bathroom and stealing her underwear, but not guilty of raping her in the woods outside the school.
Philip Chism was charged as an adult for the first-degree murder of teacher Colleen Ritzer. A status date in the case is set for December 22.
The trial was shown chilling footage of Chism – who is now 16 – pulling up the hood on his sweatshirt, sneaking out of the class and following the teacher into the toilet. A note near her body said, “I hate you all”.
Thomas Ritzer says the verdict doesn’t bring “true justice”. “There remains a tremendous and painful absence in our lives – one that, sadly, can never be replaced”. “To celebrate our love for her and in recognition of the many lives Colleen touched and continues to influence despite the vast loss we are forced to endure, we will carry on and do our very best to find the good in every day”.
Ritzer ultimately bled to death from stab and slash wounds to her neck, McDonald said, reported the Boston Herald. Prosecutors said the teen sexually assaulted the algebra teacher in the bathroom and then murdered her using a box cutter.
“He didn’t choose to do this”. She said Chism knew what he was doing was wrong when he killed and raped Ritzer.
Chism stared straight ahead and did not have any visible reaction as the verdicts were being read in Salem Superior Court.
Defense attorney Denise Regan said jurors must be certain beyond a reasonable doubt that Chism wasn’t mentally ill.
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In closing, Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall at one point gripped the boxcutter Chism used to cut Colleen Ritzer’s throat.
