A Massachusetts high school student has been charged with a woman’s murder after authorities said he was seen walking down a street holding a knife that appeared to be stained with blood.
Anthony DeMayo, a senior who attends Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, is accused of killing Janet Swallow at her home in Danvers on Thursday, March 12, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said at a news conference held the same day.
“This was random,” Tucker said of the deadly attack.
Tucker said there was no connection between DeMayo, 18, and Swallow, 68.
Swallow was discovered dead after someone called Lynn police to report DeMayo was walking along a local street, armed with a knife, the afternoon of March 12, according to Tucker.
Officers met with DeMayo and saw the knife, which Tucker said appeared to have “a reddish brown stain” indicative of blood.
“Due to his erratic behavior on the scene, he was taken to Salem hospital,” Tucker said.
Evidence and information gathered by police led investigators to carry out a well-being check at Swallow’s single-family home in Danvers, where they found her body, according to Tucker.
Afterward, at the hospital, DeMayo was arrested on a murder charge in connection with her death, Tucker said.
According to a statement of facts obtained by Boston.com, DeMayo admitted to his involvement in the crime during his encounter with Lynn police officers.
“As the investigation unfolded, DeMayo informed Lynn Officers that he had killed a woman in Danvers the night before,” the filing says, according to the outlet.
At the hospital, he told authorities that “he planned on committing this act for a long time, and wanted to kill someone for a long time,” according to court documents viewed by the outlet.
It was not immediately clear whether DeMayo had retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
DeMayo is accused of admitting to breaking into a window at Swallow’s home and attacking her while she had been asleep. He allegedly stabbed her neck, according to the statement of facts viewed by Boston.com.
Swallow had two sons, who were informed of her death on March 12, according to authorities.
The president of Bishop Fenwick High School, Tom Nunan Jr., said in a statement shared with CBS News that school officials are “cooperating fully with local law enforcement in this investigation.”
“We know this matter involves serious charges against an 18-year-old student who is in the custody and care of the proper authorities,” Nunan Jr.’s statement said.
DeMayo was due in court for an arraignment on Friday, March 13, according to CBS News.
