Teen Raped, Robbed Teacher Before Murder: DA

Philip Chism indicted for murder, aggravated rape, armed robbery
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 22, 2013 6:47 AM CST
Teen Raped, Robbed Teacher Before Murder: DA
In this Oct. 23, 2013, file photo, Philip Chism, 14, stands during his arraignment for the death of Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer, as his attorney Denise Regan speaks on his behalf.   (AP Photo/Boston Herald, Patrick Whittemore, File)

Philip Chism was indicted yesterday on a first-degree murder charge in the death of his Danvers, Mass., math teacher Colleen Ritzer last month—but he also faces aggravated rape and armed robbery charges for allegedly committing "horrific and unspeakable acts," the DA said. Armed with a box cutter he brought to school, CNN reports, prosecutors allege Chism, 14, beat Ritzer, raped her with an object, and robbed her of credit cards, an iPhone, and her underwear, before killing her. No motive was given, but a prosecutor emphasized there was no sign of wrongdoing on Ritzer's part, the Boston Globe reports.

"We are devastated and heartbroken by the details of the horrific circumstances surrounding the death of our beautiful daughter and sister, Colleen," the Ritzer family said in a statement, while a former student of Ritzer's said, "It's unreal that [Philip] would do something like that. I cannot even process into words why he would do something like that. It's devastating." A ruling on Ritzer's exact cause of death is pending, the AP notes, adding that search warrants and other documents in the case may be made public today. Chism has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge he faces as an adult; prosecutors hope to move the other charges from a youth court and try Chism as an adult. (More Colleen Ritzer stories.)

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