Friends and family members are now remembering the victims who were killed and seriously injured after a man went on a stabbing rampage at a Taunton home and mall Tuesday night.
One of the stabbing victims was 56-year-old George Heath, who was killed while trying to stop Arthur DaRosa from stabbing a waitress in the Bertucci’s restaurant at the Silver City Galleria Mall.
Heath was a teacher at New Bedford Vocational Technical High School.
Now, his family is mourning his loss.
Students at faculty at the high school are heartbroken over the loss of one of their own.
Heath’s wife, Rosemary, took to Facebook to express her grief.
“He loved his job, his students, his lifelong friends and family. I don’t want to discuss guns or mental health issues. I want to discuss my husband and the great life we shared together. I am heartbroken beyond belief. I am so thanksful to the off-duty police officer who gave him every chance to drop that knife, but didn’t,” she said in the post.
James O’Brien, superintendent of Greater New Bedford Vocational Technical High School released a statement Wednesday morning:
It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I inform the community of the following.
Mr. George Heath, one of our visual design instructors for the past 4 years, was a victim of a random act of senseless violence at the Galleria Mall in Taunton on Tuesday evening.
Mr. Heath was a tremendous educator with a great passion for teaching; he was influential in sparking creativity and a love of learning in all of his students.
More details and information will be forthcoming.
Please keep George, his family and the Voc-Tech Family in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Patricia Slavin, 80, was stabbed to death in her home on Myrick Street Tuesday after DaRosa left his child’s soccer game, crashed into a parked car, and gained entry into her home.
She was having dinner with her daughter at the time.
Kathleen Slaving, Patricia Slavin’s daughter, was transported via medical helicopter to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and remains in serious, stable condition.
The district attorney confirms he picked the home with the two women inside at random.
“I’m stunned, in this small community to hear something like this happening, you never expect this to happen here,” Mark Lamoth, Patricia’s neighbor, said.
The Bristol County District Attorney said DaRosa ran out of the home and drove to the mall minutes after he stabbed Patricia to death.
Neighbors are now left with 50 years of memories of the churchgoing woman who never bothered anyone.
“She just a quiet woman, to herself, got along with everybody, never had a harsh word to talk about anybody,” neighbor Tony Silva said.
A Bertucci’s waitress, who is pregnant, was stabbed and seriously injured in the attack in Taunton Tuesday night.
Sheenah Savoy, 26, is now in serious condition at a hospital after she was stabbed several times inside the restaurant at the Silver City Galleria Mall.
“She’s really a great woman,” close friend Bob Barcellos said. “She’s a mother of one. Single mom. Works hard to take care of her kid.”
Friends and family said Savory is a single mom with a 5-year-old daughter and works hard to support her.
“I just can’t believe all this even happened to her, it really makes no sense at all,” he said. “How do you go to work, support your family, support your kids and the next thing you know you’re being stabbed?”
The baby’s father’s mother said she just found out that she is going to be a grandmother.
“She was happy,” C.J. Martin said. “She made my son happy. My son loves her, so I love her. “With the Lord’s prayers and all the prayers being sent, she’ll be fine.”
Savoy is currently undergoing surgery at Rhode Island Hospital. Family and friends said she is tought and hanging in there.
“I’ve talked to her sisters,” Barcellos said. “They say she’s in good spirits. Trying to befunny. She’s actually in surgery right now as we speak.”
“I just hope she pulls through,” he said.
Carl Bachman, Senior Vice President of Operations at the Bertucci’s, released a statement Wednesday:
“Right now our thoughts are with the victims and their families of this tragedy. We are working with law enforcement officials to help in the investigation. We are doing everything we can for our employees during this difficult time. ”
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