NEWTON, MASS. (WHDH) - Police have made an arrest in connection with the deaths of three elderly people in Newton over the weekend, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Monday.
Ryan said 41-year-old Christopher Ferguson, of Newton, was taken into custody Monday afternoon on multiple charges including murder.
There was no established connection between Ferguson and the people who were killed, Ryan said and the incident is still being considered a random act.
Authorities initially responded on Sunday morning around 10 a.m. after Ryan said a friend found the victims inside a home on Broadway Street in Newton’s Nonantum area.
Ryan said the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
A day later, Ryan said evidence gathered at the crime scene led investigators to Ferguson. Ryan said Ferguson lives nearby and allegedly broke into the home on Broadway Street for reasons still unknown.
An email circulated by the victims’ parish on Monday identified the three as Jill and Bruno D’Amore and Lucia Arpino, the mother of Jill D’Amore.
Their pastor, Father Dan Riley, said Jill and Bruno had been scheduled to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and renew their vows on the morning their bodies were found. A friend visited to check on the couple after they did not appear for mass at Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton at 10 a.m. as planned.
Ryan said investigators inside the home where Jill, Bruno and Lucia were found dead found what appeared to be knife injuries and blunt force trauma injuries on each of the victims.
Jill D’Amore had more than 30 such injuries, according to Ryan, and there were “obvious signs of struggle” in the home, including broken furniture and a crystal paperweight with blood on it.
Ryan said a knife was found with red/brown stains on it. She said authorities also found the door of the home’s garage was open and screens were torn off windows.
Ryan said investigators examining the scene were able to gather bare bloody footprints off a tile halfway floor as well as fingerprints on screens and windows.
Investigators canvassing the area also gathered a video taken early Sunday morning of a man seen walking with no shirt, no shoes and an apparent staggering gait on Albemarle Road, according to Ryan. The DA said officers later shown the video recognized Ferguson.
DA thanks investigators, community members for help in investigation
Investigators were on scene in Newton throughout the day Sunday into Monday.
While they worked, authorities asked residents to “remain vigilant” and check any video from their home for signs of suspicious activity. Newton police said they would have additional patrols working throughout the day Monday as the person responsible for this incident remained at large.
Speaking Monday evening, Ryan thanked investigators for their “tireless” work.
She also thanked residents for their help in what she said was a “thoughtful and relentless investigation.”
“We send our sincere condolences to the family,” said Newton Police Chief John Carmichael. “We’re very happy that tonight we’re here to report that we will be able to seek justice for these victims.”
“Newton is a safe city,” Carmichael continued. “However, this is a reminder that senseless acts of violence do take place in cities such as ours.”
Neighbor speaks about suspect in Newton deaths
Ryan said an autopsy had already determined Jill 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 D’Amore and Lucia Arpino.
Ferguson was in a hospital as of Monday night where he was arrested and charged. He could be in court as soon as Tuesday.
In the meantime, one of Ferguson’s neighbors said he is a smart and funny person who has also struggled with his mental health.
Ilana Margalit said she has known Ferguson for 15 years. She continued, saying Ferguson’s family was trying to get him the help he needed.
In the wake of Ferguson’s arrest, Margalit said the crimes he allegedly committed were the result of a failure of the mental health system.
“I’m in shock,” she said.
Margalit said she was “really angry at our mental health system.”
“I, of course, feel horrible for all of the things that have happened over the past few days in Newton,” she said.
“I feel like everyone says this about their neighbor but he’s a really special man who struggles with mental health issues,” Margalit continued.
Other neighbors speaking with 7NEWS said they would sleep better Monday night after a sleepless night with windows and doors locked following warnings from authorities on Sunday.
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