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6-26-2023 1:44pm
Newton Residents Warned to Keep Vigilent, Help Requested in Triple Homicide Investigation
Darlene Cancell
Editor
Photo (cropped) by cristopdesoto from Flickr.
On Sunday night, June 25, 2023, Middlessex District Attorney Marian Ryan (DA Ryan) and Newton Police Department, with Massachusetts State Police, held a press conference in Newton, asking residents for help and to remain vigilant as officials investigate a triple homicide that is the first in the city’s history that officials can recall, said DA Ryan.
With the perpetrator(s) still at large and no suspects as of yet, investigators are asking residents, especially those in Newton’s Nonatum and Newtonville neighborhoods, to remain vigilant of their personal safety and to lock doors and windows. They ask the public to report anything suspicious to Newton Police (or 911 in an emergency), including anything unusual that may have been captured on private video.
According DA Ryan and the Newton Police Department, around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, a person familiar with the three victims called 911 to report the apparent homicides. Three elderly persons were found dead inside a home on Broadway Street, apparently from stab wounds and blunt force trauma. There were signs of forced entry into the room in which they were found. The victims had been expected at church but did not show up. The time of the murders is still being investigated.
At the time of the press conference, the victims had not been positively identified and their names were not released. However, two of the victims were married and were celebrating a 50th anniversary that weekend.
About half a mile away, an attempted break-in to a residence on Brookside Avenue was also reported. It was believed to have taken place around 5:45 a.m. At that time, residents of the home heard some sounds, which they dismissed after finding nothing amiss. It was about an hour later, when evidence of an attempted break-in was discovered, that the residents reported the incident to Newton Police.
It is unknown whether the murders and attempted break-in are connected. DA Ryan stated that there are currently no suspects to the murders. She repeated Newton Police Department’s request for public assistance in reporting anything suspicious.
“We are obviously very concerned with such a violent crime taking place within our city,” said Newtown Police Chief John Carmichael, Jr. He noted that police patrols would be increased through Sunday night. “As far as the Newton Police Department goes, we won’t rest until we find out who did this," he said.
On Sunday, the area of Broadway Street between Churchill and Linwood Avenue was closed for a few hours and people were asked to avoid the area.
On Monday, June 26th, Newton Police announced on Facebook that “all available resources” are being employed to ensure neighborhood safety. Extra officers are being added to each shift and are performing directed patrols.
