This story has been updated to include the victim’s names as well as that of the suspect arrested by police in connection with the triple homicide.
Law enforcement officials in Massachusetts are urging their community to remain vigilant after three elderly people were reportedly found stabbed to death in their home Sunday morning.
A married couple in their 70s were found brutally beaten and stabbed to death inside their Newton home along with the wife’s mother, who was in her 90s, according to WCVB. The victims were found after a friend noticed they had not attended church that morning and went to go check on them, according to the outlet. The victims have been identified as Gilda and Bruno D’Amore, ages 73 and 74, and Gilda D’Amore’s mother Lucia Arpino, 97, CNN reported.
Police arrested 41-year-old Christopher Ferguson in connection with the killings after video surfaced of a shirtless and shoeless man, identified as Ferguson, walking with a staggering gait near the residence early Sunday. A bloody footprint found at the crime scene was later matched to Ferguson’s foot.
3 elderly people found dead in Newton home from apparent homicide, DA says https://t.co/Tpezb1wunH
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) June 25, 2023
In the wake of the murders, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan urged residents to be vigilant as police searched for the suspect(s) responsible. “Lock your doors and windows even if you do not normally do that,” Ryan said. (RELATED: Police Investigating After Two Octogenarians Killed In Senior Living Community)
Ryan’s warnings were echoed by Newton Police Chief John Carmichael who assured residents more police would be patrolling the area in the wake of these murders.
“I am very concerned with such a violent crime taking place and whereas this individual, individuals are still at large,” Carmichael said. “We do really emphasize again be vigilant, pay attention to what is happening in the neighborhoods.” After the arrest of Ferguson, Carmichael expressed his belief that the streets were “safer”.
The incident has left the family’s friends and neighbors in shock.
“I mean this is a safe neighborhood. You don’t have murders in Newton or Nonantum,” neighbor Jack Porter said, according to WCVB.
Ryan revealed the couple had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary that weekend, according to CNN. “As you can imagine, this would be tragic on any day. To have family gathered for this kind of a celebration makes it particularly tragic,” Ryan stated.