The following message was sent out from the mayor’s office on Sunday:
I am sharing an important press release from District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Police Chief John Carmichael:
Active Investigation Underway in Newton
NEWTON – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael have confirmed an ongoing investigation in the Nonantum neighborhood of Newton. At approximately 10:14 a.m. today Newton Police responded to a Broadway Street residence after three elderly persons were found dead inside the home from an apparent homicide. At this time police are actively searching for the person or persons responsible. This is a very active and ongoing investigation. The area of Broadway Street between Churchill and Linwood Avenue remains closed at this time and people are asked to avoid the area.
Residents of the Nonantum area should expect to see an increased police presence. As always, residents are asked to remain vigilant, check door and window locks and report any suspicious activity to Newton Police at 617-796-2123. In an emergency call 911.
—- Updated —
Here’s an article in the Boston Globe with some more details. One heartbreaking detail from that story … two of the victims were an elderly couple who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Their friends and family has gathered at a morning mass at the local Catholic church where they were planning on renewing their marriage vows. When the couple didn’t turn up their friends went to the house to check on them and found that both they and the woman’s 90 year old mother had been murdered.
The city will be holding a community meeting about these killings at the Horace Mann School on Wed evening at 6:30 PM
My condolences to their family, friends and neighbors and everyone who has been touched by these horrific events.
Comments are now open on this thread but tread carefully and respectfully. Please limit your comments to known facts, avoid speculation, and stay acutely aware that many people are grieving and these wounds are fresh and deep.
My heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family and friends. The perpetrator[s] of this horrific crime must be brought to justice as swiftly as possible. I have every confidence that Newton’s outstanding police department will take the lead in solving these murders. Until there is more information, the entire Newton community should remain on alert.
If I were to be critical of one thing, it would be the lack of urgency in disseminating information about this crime to the public. I understand there may be legitimate investigatory reasons to withhold details. In those cases, the authorities should say that to the public and give out whatever information they can without compromising their investigation.
When serious crimes occur, the public needs a certain amount of information in order to protect themselves and potentially aid in the apprehension of perpetrators. In the case of these horrible murders, would like to have seen better communication from the authorities more quickly after the crime.
Why was there no reverse 911???
I thought the same thing. It seems like a reverse 911 call would have been useful.
Clearly this individual is highly disturbed, hopefully this fact makes it easier for Police to narrow down possible suspects. If they need $ this badly, they will strike again
Press conference by Middlesex DA Marian Ryan indicating a suspect has been located.
And under arrest
Suspect: Christopher Ferguson, 41, of Newton,
NEWTON, MA — A 41-year-old local man has been charged in the Newton triple homicide that claimed three elderly victims, who have been identified as a husband and wife in their seventies, and the wife’s mother in her nineties.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan at a Monday press conference said Christopher Ferguson, 41, of Newton, was arrested in connection to the killings and is facing charges of one count of murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and burglary