From the mayor’s email newsletter

I am sharing an important update from District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Police Chief John Carmichael:

NEWTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael have confirmed that Christopher Ferguson, 41 of Newton has been charged with murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and burglary in connection with the deaths of Gilda D’Amore, 73, her husband Bruno D’Amore, 74 and Mrs. D’Amore’s mother, Lucia Arpino, 97 who were attacked inside their Broadway Street home in Newton.

Yesterday at 10:14 a.m., a person known to the victims called 911 to report the victims were dead inside the home. She had gone to check on the victims after they did not arrive at church to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The preliminary investigation indicated some signs of forced entry including broken glass and missing screens at the basement windows. Forensic specialists from the Massachusetts Crime Scene Section were were able to collect a variety of forensic evidence.

As part of the investigation which began yesterday and continued today, investigators canvassed the neighborhood and were able to locate a video from Albemarle Road that depicted a male walking in that area, which is four-tenths of a mile from the victim’s home, at 5:20 a.m. on June 25.

That man was later identified as Christopher Ferguson.

Today, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death for Gilda D’Amore to be multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. The autopsies of the other victims are expected to be conducted tomorrow and additional charges are possible.

Late this afternoon the lab was able to positively match a footprint left in the home to Mr. Ferguson. Footprints, like fingerprints, are unique. x

His arraignment is expected to be scheduled for tomorrow at Newton District Court.

At this time this continues to appear to be a random act.

This remains an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, Newton Police and the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Section. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Nicole Allain, the Victim Witness Advocate is Cheri MacDonald.

These charges are allegations and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

You can watch the press conference here: https://youtu.be/CvLUx7CxJgs.

NOTE: A contributor posted wholly untrue statements about some of our elected officials in the comments section.  We have removed all the comments and disabled further comment.

We’re appalled that someone would use this time of horrific tragedy to try to score cheap and dishonest political points.  Shame on you.

These steps were not taken as a result of the commenters offering their opinion, rather it was because of them spreading wholesale factual fabrications