Danvers, Massachusetts – A Massachusetts teen is facing murder and home invasion charges after authorities say he broke into a home and fatally stabbed a sleeping ICU nurse in what investigators describe as a random attack.
According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, 18-year-old Anthony DeMayo was arrested after allegedly breaking into a home in Danvers, about 25 miles north of Boston, and attacking 68-year-old Janet Swallow while she slept in her bedroom.
Investigators say the victim was stabbed in the neck during the overnight attack.
Suspect Allegedly Said He Had Wanted to Kill Someone
Court documents cited by local reports say DeMayo allegedly admitted to police that he had been thinking about committing a violent act for a long time.
Authorities say the teen told investigators that he had been driving around nearby communities before choosing the home where the attack occurred.
Prosecutors say he allegedly stated that he had wanted to kill someone for a long time before carrying out the attack.
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Police Called After Teen Seen Waving Knife
After the killing, investigators say DeMayo drove about 10 miles back to his home in Lynn.
However, authorities say he returned to the same neighborhood the next day.
Residents reportedly became alarmed when they saw a young man waving a large knife and acting erratically outside, prompting a 911 call.
One neighbor told dispatchers that the teen appeared to be swinging a knife and stabbing bushes as if he were attacking someone.
When officers arrived at the scene, prosecutors say DeMayo allegedly told them he had killed a woman the previous night.
Welfare Check Leads to Discovery of Victim
Following the arrest, investigators searched the suspect’s home and reportedly found bloodstained clothing.
Authorities also reviewed cell phone data, which led officers to conduct a welfare check at the Danvers residence.
Inside the home, police discovered Janet Swallow with multiple stab wounds in her bedroom, according to prosecutors.
Officials say there was no evidence of robbery, and investigators believe the attack was completely random.
Victim Remembered as Dedicated ICU Nurse
Swallow was a longtime ICU nurse at Lahey Hospital in Burlington, where colleagues described her as a beloved member of the hospital community.
Hospital officials expressed condolences following the tragedy.
“We share our deepest condolences with her family and loved ones and her colleagues in the Nursing Department and across our hospital,” said Scott James, the hospital’s chief nursing officer.
Friends and coworkers say Swallow will be deeply missed by the hospital staff and the patients she cared for.
She was also the mother of two sons, according to reports.
School and Community React to the Tragedy
DeMayo was reportedly a senior at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, a private Catholic school.
School officials say they are cooperating with investigators and have offered counseling services for students and staff following the incident.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker described the case as particularly disturbing because of the apparent randomness of the violence.
“This is not only a tragedy for the town, for the school,” Tucker said. “This is just a very difficult case because of the randomness of this violence.”
Teen Held Without Bail
DeMayo pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment.
A judge ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation, and he is currently being held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital.
Authorities say he is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on April 1 as the investigation continues.
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