A 14 year old male student of Danvers High School has been charged in the stabbing of a 24-year old female teacher. Math teacher Colleen Ritzer's body was found behind the school in the woods, said Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. The student, Philip D. Chism, was held without bail Wednesday afternoon in Salem district court.
The 14 year old student will be tried as an adult. A hearing is scheduled for November 22. On Wednesday, Chism pleaded not guilty.
Ritzer was found dead in the woods behind the school early Wednesday morning, which was shortly after she was reported missing.
"It was learned from an interview with the suspect and video surveillance footage recovered at the high school, that a juvenile student that attends Danvers High School assaulted and subsequently murdered Colleen Ritzer and disposed of her body near the high school grounds," reported Boston CBS.
A law enforcement officer claims Ritzer was stabbed and cut with a box cutter, though no further details were given, citing the sensitivity of the investigation.
Chism was reported missing after he didn't go home after school. Other Danvers students helped in the search for him as they believed he was either kidnapped or just went missing. Shortly after, around 11:20pm, the police learned that Ritzer was also missing.
Chism was picked up while walking along the highway soon after Ritzer's missing report. He was later charged for murder based on statements and evidence found at multiple scenes at the Danvers High School and surrounding wooded area.
"There's no words to describe her. She's such an excellent teacher," student Spencer Wade, a freshman at Danvers High School, said. "She did so well to explain everything to me. She'd have picture of the day, cute puppies or whatever and fun facts and she was just an excellent teacher. I don't know why she had to die."
It is understood that after allegedly killing Ritzer, Chism went to the Hollywood Hits Cinema where he watched Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine."
The motive for the murder is still being investigated.
