GUILTY MA - Colleen Ritzer, 24, brutally murdered, Danvers, 22 Oct 2013 #1

[ScarlettScarpetta]

Maybe he thought that if he used the CCs at the movies and Wendy's, that the police would think that Colleen had actually gone there? Like to make it seem that she was still alive with CC activity? Obviously there's cameras everywhere though, so I have no idea really. Just trying to make some sense of why he might have possibly done that.

I don't think so. He would know they would have video as soon as they traced the card.. I still feel he was just buying time. OMO

 

[LambChop]

Teens today know exactly what is going on and where there are cameras and that just about anywhere you go today there are cameras recording your every move. His actions show he knew he would be caught but he did it anyway. Without feelings or remorse. Could be CR was a victim because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. jmo

 

[Foxfire]

I don't think so. He would know they would have video as soon as they traced the card.. I still feel he was just buying time. OMO

ScarlettScarpetta, I agree that he was just buying time. It takes time for investigators to obtain a subpoena and trace financials.
Imo, although likely preplanned by PC, there are many indicators that point to this being PC's first murder victim. Many notorious sexual predators/serial killers past crossed the threshold from fantasy to reality, and began their evil trails of terror at the age of 14 years old. Fortunately most predators are apprehended after their first victim, before honing their skills, as did PC, imo.

Imo, the Danver police Department should be saluted for collecting, and then connecting all the dots in such a swift manner..

http://danverspolice.com/DPD/about/history.cfm
Danvers, MA Police Department
When Chief Landers retired in 2002, Stuart M. Chase was sworn in as the new commander until his retirement in 2005. Today Chief Neil F. Ouellette presides over the ranks of 47 officers which include two captains, two lieutenants, eight sergeants, and thirty-one officers. Among the police, there are three detectives, a prosecutor, firearms licensing officer, DARE officer, and a K-9 officer. Additionally, there are nine dispatchers, a crime analyst, a records clerk, and an executive assistant to the Chief. The department serves a population of 25,212 and last year there were 18,521 calls for service.

 

[finder108]

I keep wondering whether PC was taking anti-depressants. Does anyone know?

 

[CHERIE.T]

IMO things are very different than they were 20 years ago...the amount of violence and the age of those committing it....but this type crime committed by teens shakes me to the core. It sure sounds like this 14 year old premeditated the murder. Just beyond sad.

 

[CHERIE.T]

I keep wondering whether PC was taking anti-depressants. Does anyone know?

I'd like to know that as well.

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Prosecutors confirm there is 'no evidence' of untoward behavior from teacher murdered by student who was 'infatuated' with her

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...red-student-infatuated-her.html#ixzz2jkon9fBW

 

[Backwoods]

Coming in late to this case, but have read all the thread.

Just a few thoughts:

I think maybe this was premeditated, but only in the short-term -- I think maybe he got the gloves from the same art room as he took the art knife or box cutter, and perhaps he was able to do this that afternoon, maybe even after Colleen left her classroom for the restroom.

The cell phones -- I wonder if they had exchanged some text messages. Either (1) his coming on to/professing love for her and her no-doubt professional and probably brief reply/ies -- maybe "We need to discuss this face to face."

Or maybe -- whatever topics were discussed at the meeting were the subject of text messages between them, or at least, from him to her. Maybe he had already reached out to her, confided to her that he was depressed about the move, angry at his mother, feeling suicidal -- whatever. As a caring teacher in preparation for a counseling career, she likely would have felt a need to respond to that kind of plea for help. That could be why she used his drawing in her math class to tune in to him and then request he come in that afternoon.

Maybe their conversation that afternoon touched on topics that were painful/humiliating for him -- possibly so much so that Colleen suggested, "If you can't say it out loud, we can use our phones -- you can text me your story, sitting right here", basically (a long shot, but possible.) He may have revealed more to her -- about mental problems, depression, past abuse, violent fantasies, whatever -- than he felt able to bear after he opened up -- desperately needing intimacy, but being terrified of it. Perhaps she even informed him, gently, that she was profession-bound to take steps to get him some kind of help -- he freaked out, poured his pain and rage out on her, thinking it would stop his pain/secrets from being spread any further.

I think going to eat, going to the movie, walking far away might just be delaying thinking about ANYTHING -- the original problems, what he did to Colleen. I think he likely pondered (maybe already had been considering) suicide. Like many suicidal people, he may have been ambivalent -- which could play into his part-way cover-up of the crime.

He may not be saying why he did what he did because he may not know why, may not know how to verbalize it.

Just one theory, maybe not the correct one.

I'm glad he's getting a mental evaluation. Obviously, he needs to have one. Just not sure he is a psychopath -- possible, certainly, but I think there is a range of other possibilities at this point.

 

[Foxfire]

Prosecutors confirm there is 'no evidence' of untoward behavior from teacher murdered by student who was 'infatuated' with her.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...red-student-infatuated-her.html#ixzz2jkon9fBW

<sniped & BBM for focus>

'Imo the items/evidence/info located during the search of PC's home, coupled with his sketch art should indicate the motive for this brutal attack and murder.

Imo, the spurned infatuated student theory is a red herring; 'grasping for straws'.. PC had only attended DHS for two weeks. This heinous and reprehensible act by PC didn't manifest itself over a two week period, imo.
I would be more interested in PC's past disciplinary & psychological history, rather than any meds that he may or may not have been on.

I am infuriated that the prosecution is forced to defend the innocent victim; CR. Imo, the rumors, speculation, and conjecture is caused by the Judge sealing the investigative files, and other silence ordered in this case. I understand that their must be darkness present for the sun to shine through.
Without transparency and sunshine, swift Justice for CR is diminished significantly, imo.
_________________________________________
Prosecutors forced to defend teacher &#8216;murdered by infatuated student&#8217; by saying she did nothing wrong at secret evidence hearing

'As far as I am aware he was not on medication. The only thing anyone can come up with is that he had feelings for her that were not returned, but that is just a theory. It really is a complete mystery. and it is unclear whether we will ever really know why he did it.'

Another police source previously described Chism as 'stone cold' on the night of the killing and said that while he confessed to the crime, he would not give any indication why he did it.

Statements come after it was revealed several students will give testimony about 'one crucial thing' they saw in the hours leading up to the death of Ms Ritzer

However attorney Susan Oker, one of Chism's public defenders, said it has not been determined what evidence will be admissible in court, so releasing anything would jeopardize the trial.
Oker said some statements taken from some 14-year-olds were 'inflammatory' and therefore unnecessarily harmful, according to The Boston Herald.

The impoundment mostly pertains to a search warrant served in the investigation, with its findings said to be 'sensitive' and integral to the case.

Detectives are working on a theory that Chism &#8211; who only moved to Danvers from Clarksville, Tennessee at the start of the school year &#8211; was 'infatuated' with Colleen, 24 and snapped when she spurned his advances.
But they cannot find any proof.

Detectives have also looked into his medical history, but at this stage they do not think he was on any kind of mental health drugs.

A spokeswoman said: 'The motive is part of any investigation, but ultimately we don't have to prove a motive. When you are piecing together any investigation, you are looking for an explanation, but I wouldn't want to characterize where we are with that at this stage. Honestly, who knows why anyone would do something like this.'

 

[Foxfire]

Coming in late to this case, but have read all the thread.

I'm glad he's getting a mental evaluation. Obviously, he needs to have one. Just not sure he is a psychopath -- possible, certainly, but I think there is a range of other possibilities at this point.

<respectfully sniped & BBM for focus>

Backwoods, do you have the article link where it states that PC has been granted a mental evaluation? Not questioning it, just can't locate it...TIA

 

[i.b.nora]

<respectfully sniped & BBM for focus>

Backwoods, do you have the article link where it states that PC has been granted a mental evaluation? Not questioning it, just can't locate it...TIA

According to The Boston Herald:

"Danvers High freshman Philip Chism pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Salem District Court today. He was held without bail and the judge approved his defense lawyer's motion for a mental evaluation. Chism's next court date is Nov. 22. His mother was in the courtroom as her lanky son quietly appeared before a judge."

- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinio...urder_of_danvers_teacher#sthash.PCrlS379.dpuf

 

[PrairieWind]

Well, starting to sound like he wasnt on any medication. Since the police have repeatedly said that they were working on the theory that he was infatuated with her, I assume that some student must have given them some indication that was the case. They just havent been able to find any independent evidence yet. Cell phone records, computer hard drive analysis, etc may help in that regard. I am certainly interested in what these several key witness students supposedly saw beforehand that is so important. I think it was good the police to come out and say that the victim didnt do anything wrong, to try to clear up that rumor.

 

[Foxfire]

Just a couple of observations that I thought interesting-;


<article sniped & BBM for focus>
The 24-year-old Ritzer often used Twitter to stay in touch with her students, last tweeting two days ago geometry homework links. She also wrote on her profile: "Math teacher often too excited about the topics I'm teaching." She also shared personal thoughts, tweeting she loved the fall, coffee, ice cream and the movie "Home Alone." She would send out uplifting messages, including "find something good in every day ."

She also offered her students emotional help after the Boston Marathon bombings tweeting: "This world is a crazy place. Love who you love and live every day. Thoughts and prayers to those affected at the Boston Marathon."

CV, 17, a senior, was in Ritzer&#8217;s math class last year.
&#8220;She&#8217;d just joke around. I loved her class,&#8221; said Veatch. &#8220;I hate math ... But she made it fun.&#8221;

He said one day she noticed he was having a bad day, and pulled him out into the hall and talked him through it.
&#8220;We ended up talking out in the hall for like 20 minutes. I walked in the class feeling a lot better, more happy. I was ready to do my work. In 20 minutes, she totally changed my attitude. It was amazing.&#8221;
- See more at: http://bostonherald.com/news_opinio...urder_of_danvers_teacher#sthash.5xxBqtqh.dpuf

______________________________________________
'Public defender Denise Regan, is also PC's defense Attorney. 'Winchester, MA is aprox 20 miles from Danver, MA'..

http://www.wickedlocal.com/winchester/features/x1936752714/Mortimer-appears-in-Woburn-District-Court

UPDATE Accused Winchester murderer Mortimer seeks to suppress evidence

Winchester, MA &#8212;
Thomas Mortimer IV, a Winchester resident accused of murdering his wife, their two young children and his mother-in-law last summer is attempting to quash evidence collected at the crime scene last summer.
In a pre-trial hearing, Mortimer&#8217;s lawyer, public defender Denise Regan, asked Judge Leila Kern to suppress evidence on the grounds that it was gathered before a search warrant arrived at the premises on June 16, the day the bodies were discovered.
<read more>

 

[thepinkdragon]

<sniped & BBM for focus>

'Imo the items/evidence/info located during the search of PC's home, coupled with his sketch art should indicate the motive for this brutal attack and murder.

Imo, the spurned infatuated student theory is a red herring; 'grasping for straws'.. PC had only attended DHS for two weeks. This heinous and reprehensible act by PC didn't manifest itself over a two week period, imo.
I would be more interested in PC's past disciplinary & psychological history, rather than any meds that he may or may not have been on.



Detectives are working on a theory that Chism – who only moved to Danvers from Clarksville, Tennessee at the start of the school year – was 'infatuated' with Colleen, 24 and snapped when she spurned his advances.
But they cannot find any proof.

'

I cut the quote to point out he had been there since the school year began. That's more than two weeks. Moo


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Foxfire]

I cut the quote to point out he had been there since the school year began. That's more than two weeks. Moo


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

TY, thepinkdragon, I stand corrected.

 

[PrairieWind]

TY, thepinkdragon, I stand corrected.

Probably more than enough time for a new kid to develope an infatuation with a pretty and friendly teacher when he maybe didnt have that many other close friends. I just can't help but think this attack was focused on her. She wasnt a random victim or victim of opportunity, in my opinion.

 

[Backwoods]

<respectfully sniped & BBM for focus>

Backwoods, do you have the article link where it states that PC has been granted a mental evaluation? Not questioning it, just can't locate it...TIA

I see i. b. nora got a link for this for you, Foxfire, before I made it back to this thread and saw your question. (Thanks, i.b. nora! :seeya

 

[Foxfire]

Probably more than enough time for a new kid to develop an infatuation with a pretty and friendly teacher when he maybe didn't have that many other close friends. I just can't help but think this attack was focused on her. She wasn't a random victim or victim of opportunity, in my opinion.

'PC, was described by classmates as antisocial, and also that he was withdrawn a couple of weeks before the murde'r.

Students in Danvers, MA, Wednesday described the 14-year-old freshman charged with the murder of their beloved math teacher as "withdrawn" and "chill" -- but..

They also said PC, who moved to Danvers, MA from Clarksville, Tennessee, this summer, played soccer, focused on academics and liked to draw in a notebook he kept with him at all times.

&#8220;The last couple weeks he like totally faded out,&#8221; said KB, 14.

A.M., 15, said he was in Spanish class with PC.
&#8220;He didn&#8217;t seem like a troubled person, he just really was like, antisocial,&#8221; A.M. said. &#8220;He looked really tired and out-of-it all the time.&#8221;
Chism was reserved but not rude or mean, AM and others said.

Read more: http://www.wickedlocal.com/danvers/...ibe-alleged-killer-Philip-Chism#ixzz2jsIHt3mV
Follow us: @Danversherald on Twitter | 195871893756961 on Facebook
_________________________________________________
'Interesting read'...

http://www.scribd.com/doc/124879958/Thinking-About-Psychopaths-and-Psychopathy
Thinking About Psychopaths and Psychopathy

This volume addresses a topic that leads the news, informs documentaries and pro&#64257;les, moves from reportage to entertainment and back again, and concerns everyone who cares or writes about the harm that some do to others. Whether that harm is on an individual or a broader scale, whether it occurs down the street, across the country, or in a continuing television drama or a &#64257;lm, everyone knows about people scammed or injured or killed, put out of work or deprived of retirement funds, lied to or otherwise deceived, and about those people and organizations that do it to them without remorse or guilt.

Yet there is also much con-fusion in society, in the media, even among specialists within the legal and the psychiatric and psychological communities, about the topic.That confusion starts with the very terms psychopath and psychopathy. While they occur in the popular literature, and are deeply embedded in the public imagination, they appear only indirectly in the of&#64257;cial scienti&#64257;c literature. The index to the authorized list of psychological and psychiatric illnesses, as de&#64257;ned by the American Psychiatric Association in its
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
, does not contain the word psychopath at all.

The Manual does say in its general discussion of antisocial personality disorder that the pattern of disre-gard for, or violation of, the rights of others has also been called psychopathy, sociopathy, or dyssocial personality disorder.

In so doing, the Manual equates the four terms. But the Manual
only authorizes the use of antisocial personality disorder for diagnostic, treatment, insurance, legal, and other purposes.So in my own courses over the years, when I have shown all or part of a documentary about serial killers which labels them psychopaths, I have without any consideration of differences, simply told students that the term psychopath is interchangeable with sociopath and antisocial personality disorder and that they can use any one in answering questions, writing exams, and thinking about the issues.

Until this seminar I have not considered the differences to any great extent. Even more confusing to students and to the public at large are the connotations of the word antisocial. Many who hear the word antisocial think of the per-son who does not interact successfully with others, stays to himself at gatherings,appears either too shy or dismissive of others to be part of something larger than he is.

Yet the Manual says, to the contrary, that the individual with antisocial personality disorder may exhibit the super&#64257;cial charm of someone with the traditional label of psychopath.To add further to the confusion, the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder requires the labeled individual to be at least eighteen years old and to have had a diagnosis of conduct disorder before the age of &#64257;fteen.
<sniped - Read More>

 

[FragileSugar]

Judge refuses to unseal documents in Danvers case

Judge Michael C. Lauranzano said that releasing details of the case, which drew attention worldwide, could &#8220;effect/prejudice an ongoing criminal investigation by potentially influencing witnesses who are expected to testify before the grand jury.&#8221;

&#8220;Some of these witnesses are not equipped to handle the media attention that will be drawn to them as soon as their identities are revealed,&#8221; he wrote.

 

[i.b.nora]

From the Boston Globe article posted above:

"On Monday, lawyers for the Globe and other news organizations asked Lauranzano to unseal the affidavit and other records, a move opposed by Blodgett’s office and a lawyer for Ritzer’s family, who told the judge her family was still grieving the loss of the popular 24-year-old teacher.

Michael J. Grygiel — an Albany, N.Y., lawyer — represented the Associated Press, GateHouse Media, and the Eagle Tribune Publishing Co. in court.

Lauranzano, in his decision, extended the sealing of the affidavit to Nov. 22, the date that prosecutors have said they would finish presenting evidence to the grand jury."

Personally I think the still grieving family argument is a little lame. I am pretty sure they will be grieving for a very very long time. And, it could lead to speculation that there is something particularly unusual in this case.