NEWTON, MASS. (WHDH) - A 41-year-old Newton man charged in connection with the deaths of three elderly people in Newton over the weekend was ordered held without bail following a court appearance via Zoom on Tuesday.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan previously announced Monday afternoon that police had arrested Ferguson in connection with the apparently random triple homicide at a home on Broadway Street.
Ferguson has been charged with at least one count of murder, among other charges. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
Gilda “Jill” D’Amore and her husband Bruno D’Amore were scheduled to renew their wedding vows on Sunday as part of celebrations for their 50th wedding anniversary. Ryan said a friend found the D’Amores in their home with Lucia Arpino, Gilda’s mother, after the couple did not arrive at their church as planned.
Inside the D’Amores’ home, Ryan said investigators found “obvious signs of struggle” as well as apparent knife injuries and blunt force trauma injuries on each of the victims.
Ryan said an autopsy already determined Glinda D’Amore’s cause of death to be multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma as of Monday evening.
Additional charges may be coming for Ferguson, Ryan said, based on the results of still pending autopsies for Bruno and Lucia.
Originally scheduled to begin earlier in the day Tuesday, Ferguson’s arraignment got underway around 2 p.m.
The delays, sources said, were due to Ferguson being uncooperative with officers.
According to court documents, Ferguson’s ex-girlfriend told police Ferguson had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The ex-girlfriend also said Ferguson had been in a manic episode since February of this year.
Ferugson’s sister described his recent behavior as “erratic.”
7NEWS spoke with Ferguson’s attorney, Dmitry Lev, outside the courthouse.
Asked if Ferguson was agitated or upset, Lev responded “There’s no further comment about that.”
“Our condolences to the families of the D’Amores and the Arpinos,” Lev said.
Neighbors react to arrest of suspect
As family members and others gathered at Newton District Court Tuesday, caution tape remained in place around the Broadway Street home where the D’Amores and Arpino were found.
Neighbors shared their thoughts, describing feelings of shock after recent events and subsequent warnings from authorities to “remain vigilant” before police ultimately arrested Ferguson.
“We’re all relieved that somebody is in custody but we just want to make sure that justice is done,” one neighbor told 7NEWS. “The police have done an unbelievable job taking their time and getting everything handled.”
“I was surprised they got him so quick,” another neighbor said.
Victims remembered for their community impact
Members of the victims’ church community at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton reacted to the deaths on Monday, with Father Dan Riley calling the trio, “Three of the most wonderful people.”
On Tuesday, family members of the victims embraced, wiped tears and grabbed hands as they left the courthouse after Ferguson’s arraignment.
“Italian tradition — family is very tight and they represented that,” said Carl Pasquarosa of the St. Mary of Carmen Society. “And to think they were all together, not surprising, tragic, sad.”
Bruno, Jill and Lucia were involved with the St. Mary of Carmen Society, a Newton-based Italian-American group supporting immigrants from Italy in Newton.
Each year, 97-year-old Lucia would take part in the organization’s annual festival.
“We did see her annually following the Madonna as we processed through the streets of Nonantum and I’m sure it was something she lived for to be there every year,” Pasquarosa said.
This year, the family will be remembered on the last day of the festival, which is scheduled to run from July 12 to July 16.
In the meantime, the family will be in the prayers of many Tuesday night as their church plans to hold a memorial service at 6:30 p.m.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston also shared a statement on Tuesday.
“As priests, we serve to minister to people in times of great loss and tragedy,” O’Malley said, in part. “Often words are not enough to help families and friends come to terms with the loss of a loved one. We look to God for answers. We seek to understand. Often, we simply cannot make sense of what has happened. But our faith sustains us, and in this moment of enormous pain, we know that God is with us always”.
“This week and for the weeks, months, and years ahead, the brutal and senseless murders of Gilda D’Amore, her husband, Bruno D’Amore, and Gilda’s mother, Lucia Arpino, will stay with us as we come to terms with this unimaginable loss,” O’Malley continued.
O’Malley said he is currently in Rome where he said he will offer mass for Gilda, Bruno and Lucia at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Ferguson is due back in court next month.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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