A 14-year-old boy has been charged with slaying a Danvers High School math teacher who was found murdered in the woods near the school, the Boston Herald reports.
Philip Chism, who will be charged as an adult, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday and was held without bail.
The news came after Danvers public schools were closed down while police investigated the slaying of teacher Colleen Ritzer, District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett told the Herald.
"She was a very, very respected, loved teacher. At 24 years of age ... it's a terrible tragedy for the entire Danvers community," said Blodgett, adding "there is no reason to believe other suspects are involved."
The judge approved Chism's lawyer's motion for a mental evaluation. The teen's next court date is Nov. 22.
Chism, who is the leading scorer for the school's junior varsity team, "assaulted and subsequently murdered Colleen Ritzer and disposed of her body near the high school grounds," according to a police report. Police state they also have surveillance footage of Chism.
The teen was found wandering north on the southbound side of Route 1 at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in Topsfield, the DA said. Both he and Ritzer had been reported missing.
Police said Chism was last seen about 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Hollywood Hits movie theater in Danvers. Theater manager Scott Przybcien told the Herald that Chism saw the 4:30 p.m. screening of the Woody Allen film "Blue Jasmine."
"All we know is, he bought a ticket, saw a movie and left. It was a fairly busy day. He blended right in," Przybcien said. "I think he just was wandering, looking for a place to hide. A movie theater is a perfect place for that."
The DA would not give details about how the teacher was killed or what evidence linked Chism to the murder. They said police found blood in a second-floor bathroom at the high school when they went looking for the teacher at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday.
Andover resident Mary Duffy, who lives next door to the Ritzer family, said she knew Colleen Ritzer nearly her whole life.
"If every family had a daughter like Colleen Ritzer, it would be a wonderful world. She always wanted to teach math," Duffy told the Herald. "She was a quiet, pleasant girl with many friends. She was just like the ideal daughter. She is. This family is a family of America. They are the ideal family, they are friendly, they are loving, close."
Ritzer was active on Twitter, tweeting homework assignments and study guides for her students as well as encouraging thoughts on life. Her bio reads, "Math teacher often too excited about the topics I'm teaching."
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