Crime & Safety

Chism Arraigned Wednesday in Murder of Teacher Colleen Ritzer

Philip Chism, 14, will be arraigned in superior court as an adult on charges of murder, rape and robbery in the death of Danvers High math teacher Colleen Ritzer.

Fourteen-year-old Philip Chism will be arraigned as an adult in Salem Superior Court Wednesday afternoon, following grand jury indictments last month on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated rape and armed robbery.

Chism, who recently moved to Danvers from Tennessee, is accused of murdering high school math teacher Colleen Ritzer in a bathroom at Danvers High on the afternoon of Oct. 22.

Following the indictments handed down Nov. 21, new and chilling details of the murder were revealed in court documents that were impounded for the duration of the grand jury hearing, including a handwritten note left next to Ritzer's body stating: "I hate you all."

The charges of rape and robbery were also added to the case against Chism during the grand jury hearing.

Ritzer, 24, of Andover, was killed after she had Chism stay after class on Oct. 22 to prepare for an upcoming exam.

District Attorney Jon Blodgett said his office would move to join all three indictments together in superior court. The rape and robbery charges were initially filed in juvenile court with Chism as a youthful offender.


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