Crime & Safety

Chism Indicted on Additional Count of Rape in Ritzer Murder

The teenager was indicted by a grand jury on Friday morning after prosecutors recalled the panel to hear additional evidence.

Philip Chism, the 14-year-old accused of murdering his Danvers High math teacher Colleen Ritzer of Andover, was indicted by a grand jury Friday on an additional charge of aggravated rape.

Essex County District Attorney spokeswoman Carrie Kimball-Monahan said the same grand jury that indicted Chism on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated rape and armed robbery in November was recalled Friday morning at the request of the DA's office to hear additional evidence in the case.

Kimball-Monahan said the grand jury returned an indictment for Chism as a Youthful Offender on an additional count of aggravated rape in connection with Ritzer's murder in October.

Prosecutors now claim Chism forcibly had sexual intercourse with Ritzer while the initial indictment alleged Chism also raped her with an object.

Chism was arraigned on the three aforementioned charges on Dec. 4 in Salem Superior Court and may be arraigned on the new charge at his upcoming court date on Jan. 30, according to Kimball-Monahan.

That hearing was originally scheduled as a pre-trial conference with prosecutors and Chism's attorney Denise Regan. Chism's presence had actually been waived by a judge.

The Salem News also reports prosecutors obtained a warrant Friday afternoon to search Chism's cell phone for evidence, possibly photographs of the crime, which may be the real reason he tossed his cell phone that night.

Ritzer, 24, lived in Andover most of her life and graduated from Andover High School in 2007.


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