Colleen Ritzer, 24, of Andover, a well-liked teacher at Danvers High School was found in October 2013 in the woods near Danvers High School, raped and with her throat slashed.
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Ken Yuszkus/AP Chism was found guilty of murder on Tuesday, a day after a jury began deliberating.
A MA teenager who raped and killed his high school math teacher “knew right from wrong and could choose right from wrong”, a prosecutor said Monday during closing arguments in the teen’s murder trial. They said he changed clothes after school, then followed Ritzer into the girls bathroom, where he brutally raped, strangled and stabbed her, then carted her body outside in a trash barrel to a wooded area, where he further assaulted her.
Superior Court Judge David Lowy ultimately determined that Chism was competent to be tried as an adult for the rape and murder of Ritzer. They said Chism was seen following Ritzer to the restroom and pacing back and forth outside the door. She cited a history of mental illness in Chism’s family. He is now 16 and is being tried as an adult. Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall told the jurors that doing something terrible doesn’t make you insane.
“This guilty verdict, while the beginning of justice for Colleen, is certainly no cause for celebration as there can never be true justice for the crime committed”, said Thomas Ritzer, her father.
Ritzer’s family reported her missing that night and her body was found the next day in a shallow grave covered with leaves, pine needles and twigs in the woods next to the school.
He then goes back into the classroom, but comes right back out with his hood on.
Minutes later, he was seen emerging from the bathroom carrying the black trousers the teacher had been wearing.
A bloody box cutter, mask, gloves and a hooded sweatshirt were later found in his backpack by police who found Chism walking beside a highway in neighboring Topsfield. A psychiatrist testifying for the defense said Chism was in the midst of a psychotic episode when he killed Ritzer.
After the verdict was read, the defense filed a motion to conduct an investigation regarding the parole process, which was scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 10:30 a.m. Since Chism is under 18, he is eligible for parole after as few as 15 years due to a recent 2012 Supreme Court case, Miller v. Alabama.
Authorities have identified the suspect in the killing as 14-year-old Philip Chism.
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“We will honor her legacy and be her voice during the continued judicial process”, he said.
