Prosecutors: Video Shows Murder Suspect Follow Teacher Into Bathroom

By John Castelluccio, Bryan McGonigle, Owen Boss and Chris Helms

DANVERS, Mass. — The young man police say murdered his math teacher and dumped her body on the school grounds will be held without bail.

Philip Daniel Chism, 14, is charged with the murder of a Danvers High School math teacher Colleen Ritzer, 24. He pleaded not guilty in Salem District Court on Wednesday. Ritzer, a native of Andover, graduated from Andover High School and still lived in town.

Ritzer's body was found in the woods behind Danvers High School Tuesday night, according to District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Police began searching for Ritzer after a call came in at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday saying she hadn't come home and wasn't answering her cell phone. Authorities found blood in a second-floor bathroom at the high school, sparking a wider search.

Court documents from the suspect's arraignment say prosecutors have surveillance video of the teacher going into the bathroom. Five minutes later, the suspect went into that bathroom.

A judge ruled that Chism would be treated as an adult.

Those who knew Ritzer described her as having "grace and compassion beyond her years." Her students have joined the outpouring of grief for their teacher.

On Wednesday night, hundreds of students and parents gathered for a vigil in honor of Ritzer.

Here, in reverse chronological order, are all our posts on this subject.

Follow Danvers Patch on Twitter at @DanversPatch for the latest.

• Students Hold Vigil for Slain Teacher
• DA Confirms Murder Suspect Was Student of Colleen Ritzer
• Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of Andover's Colleen Ritzer
• Slain Teacher Had "Grace, Compassion Beyond Her Years"
• Teen Suspect in Teacher Slaying Held Without Bail
• Slain Teacher Remembered By Students for Joy, Bright Smiles at School
• High School Remains Closed to Public as Investigation Continues
• Danvers High Teacher Murdered, Body Found in Woods Behind School
• 14-Year-Old Murder Suspect to be Arraigned in Salem Juvenile Court
• Missing Danvers Teen Found Safely
• DA's Office Says Case Now a Homicide Investigation
• Danvers Schools Closed Wednesday as Police Investigate Case of Missing Teen
• Police Searching for Missing Danvers Teen