Massachusetts Teen Allegedly Kills Nurse in Random Home Invasion
An 18-year-old Massachusetts man has been charged with murder after allegedly breaking into a Danvers home and fatally stabbing a 68-year-old ICU nurse while she slept. Authorities say the attack was entirely random and that the two were not known to each other.
What Happened
Anthony DeMayo allegedly broke through a window of a home in Danvers, approximately 25 miles north of Boston, in the early morning hours and stabbed Janet Swallow in the neck while she slept in her bedroom. Swallow, a mother of two sons, worked as an ICU nurse at Lahey Hospital in Burlington.
DeMayo then drove approximately 10 miles back to his home in Lynn. Authorities found no evidence of robbery and say he acted alone.
What He Told Police
According to court documents, DeMayo told investigators he had driven through nearby communities on the night of the attack before stopping at the victim's home. He allegedly admitted he had been planning the act for a long time and that he had wanted to kill someone.
The following day, DeMayo returned to the victim's neighborhood, where witnesses reported seeing him erratically waving a large knife and stabbing at bushes. One resident called 911 and described the scene. "It was like a 6-inch blade, and he was just swinging his arm around," the caller said. "It looked like he was pretending the bushes were a person. It was like he was practicing."
When police arrived, DeMayo allegedly told them he had killed a woman the night before.
How He Was Caught
Officers searched DeMayo's home and recovered bloodstained clothing. Cell phone data obtained during the investigation prompted a welfare check at Swallow's residence, where she was discovered in her bedroom with multiple stab wounds.
DeMayo is a senior at Bishop Fenwick High School, a private Roman Catholic school in Peabody. The school has been cooperating with police and is offering counseling to students.
Community and Hospital React
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker addressed the case following DeMayo's arrest. "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."
Lahey Hospital chief nursing officer Scott James issued a statement describing Swallow as a beloved and valued employee. "We share our deepest condolences with her family and loved ones and her colleagues in the Nursing Department and across our hospital," James said.
What Comes Next
DeMayo pleaded not guilty to murder and home invasion charges at his arraignment on Friday. He has been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and is being held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital. His next court appearance, a probable cause hearing, is scheduled for April 1.
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