A couple who have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary are brutally murdered at their Massachusetts home as police officers chase suspects while telling people in their neighborhood to lock their doors
- Three elderly people were found murdered in their Massachusetts home
- Among them were an elderly couple and the woman’s mother, in her late 90s
- Police said there was evidence of a break-in and urged locals to lock their doors
An elderly couple who had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary were brutally murdered along with his wife’s mother at their Massachusetts home on Sunday.
The unidentified couple, described as “fantastic Italian people who don’t hurt a soul”, had celebrated their wedding anniversary on Saturday night and were due to renew their vows on Sunday at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians – but they never came at.
The couple, in their 70s, and the woman’s mother, who was in her late 90s, were found by a neighbor at their home in Nonantum when they checked on them around 10.14am.
All three are believed to have died from stab wounds and blunt force injuries.
There were also indications that the house had been broken into, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan confirmed at a press conference on Sunday evening.
Police advised residents to keep their doors closed and to check surveillance cameras if anything was caught on video.
The unidentified Italian couple and the woman’s mother, who was in her late 90s, were found by a neighbor at their home outside of Boston
Police said there was evidence of a forced entry into the elderly couple’s home and another break-in was reported this morning about half a mile away
Jim Sbordone, a retired lieutenant with the Newton Fire Department who was also close friends with the victims, told The Boston Globe that the family has been a long-time supporter of the nearby Our Lady Help of Christians Church.
“They were fantastic Italians who wouldn’t hurt a soul and would do anything for anyone,” Sbordone told the newspaper.
“They were great people.”
“That doesn’t happen in the neighborhood,” he said. “I hope it doesn’t happen to anyone again.”
According to police, there was another attempted break-in in the town of Newtonville, half a mile away, around 5:40 a.m. Sunday morning.
Ryan said authorities were still working to determine if the two events were related and, if so, the order in which they occurred.
The couple’s neighbor called 911 and reported finding their bodies after visiting their Broadway home as they were expected at the church.
Ryan said an investigation is ongoing and urged residents to report anything suspicious.
“This is the night you lock your doors and windows, even if you don’t normally do it.”
“It’s a warm night, people may have air conditioners on, be vigilant,” she said during the conference.
Newton Police Chief John F. Carmichael Jr. said there would be additional police presence on the streets Sunday night.
Their three bodies were reported to police just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan (pictured at the lectern) said authorities were still working to determine if the triple homicide and another incident about half a mile away were linked
A neighbor who lives two houses away from the couple but who wished to remain anonymous also expressed confusion and shock at what appeared to be random acts of violence.
“Why her?” they told the Boston Herald. “Why such a nice couple like her?” Why this neighborhood? “That doesn’t happen around here.”
He said the victims were a “very, very nice couple”.