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Colleen Ritzer killing: Mourning for Massachusetts teacher US teacher Colleen Ritzer was 'killed with box cutter'
(about 2 hours later)
A candlelight vigil has been held for a Massachusetts maths teacher allegedly murdered by a 14-year-old student, with mystery surrounding a motive. A student accused of murdering a Massachusetts high school maths teacher used a box cutter to stab her before disposing of her body, US media report.
Students and teachers in Danvers town remembered Colleen Ritzer, 24, as a supportive and enthusiastic teacher. Philip Chism, 14, was charged on Wednesday as an adult over the the death of Colleen Ritzer, 24, whose body was found in woods behind the school.
Phillip Chism, who was charged as an adult on Wednesday, was a new student who was described as quiet. The Boston Globe reports that school CCTV cameras showed the accused pushing a recycling bin through the building.
Prosecutors say an arrest was made based on statements by the suspect and evidence from school CCTV cameras. It is not known if Ritzer's body was inside.
Ritzer's body was found in the woods behind the high school, in a suburb of Boston, after she was reported missing late on Tuesday. She was found dead in woods behind the school, after being reported missing late on Tuesday.
The teacher had been stabbed with a box cutter, US media reports, citing unnamed law enforcement officials. Danvers High School, in a suburb of Boston, reopened on Thursday for students to speak to counsellors. Classes will resume on Friday.
'Amazing, beautiful daughter''Amazing, beautiful daughter'
Police have not publicly discussed a cause of death or any possible motive.
Officials said Ritzer and the suspect knew each other from the school, but did not elaborate.Officials said Ritzer and the suspect knew each other from the school, but did not elaborate.
Gardner Trask, chairman of the Danvers Board of Selectmen, told the Associated Press news agency the killing is a "devastating blow" to the close-knit town.
On Wednesday evening the Boston Red Sox held a moment of silence for Ritzer before the first game of the World Series, America's professional baseball championship.On Wednesday evening the Boston Red Sox held a moment of silence for Ritzer before the first game of the World Series, America's professional baseball championship.
Hundreds of people attended the vigil at the school's car park, wearing pink clothes or bows in tribute to Ritzer's favourite colour. And hundreds of people attended the vigil at the school's car park, wearing pink clothes or bows in tribute to Ritzer's favourite colour.
"She supported all of us," Courtney Arnoldy, 18, who was Ritzer's student, said. "We should be there to support her."
Ritzer reportedly lived in her family home with her younger brother and sister.Ritzer reportedly lived in her family home with her younger brother and sister.
Her family said they were mourning the death of their "amazing, beautiful daughter and sister".Her family said they were mourning the death of their "amazing, beautiful daughter and sister".
"Everyone that knew and loved Colleen knew of her passion for teaching and how she mentored each and every one of her students," the family said in a statement."Everyone that knew and loved Colleen knew of her passion for teaching and how she mentored each and every one of her students," the family said in a statement.
'Opposite of aggressive''Opposite of aggressive'
Ritzer was said to be friendly towards the school's students, many of whom were not much younger than her.Ritzer was said to be friendly towards the school's students, many of whom were not much younger than her.
Her Twitter biography describes the maths teacher as "often too excited about the topics I'm teaching". She used the account to set homework for students.Her Twitter biography describes the maths teacher as "often too excited about the topics I'm teaching". She used the account to set homework for students.
Schools in Danvers were closed on Wednesday, though the high school reopened for two hours on Thursday for students to talk to counsellors and grief specialists.
The suspect's family and lawyer have not spoken to reporters.The suspect's family and lawyer have not spoken to reporters.
The accused had moved to Massachusetts from the state of Tennessee before the start of the school year.The accused had moved to Massachusetts from the state of Tennessee before the start of the school year.
He was said to be a star player on the school soccer team. One student, Kyle Cahill, told the Associated Press news agency the suspect's absence had been noted at a team dinner on Tuesday night. He was said to be a star player on the school soccer team. One student, Kyle Cahill, told the Associated Press the suspect's absence had been noted at a team dinner on Tuesday night.
"We're all just a family. It just amazes me really," said Kyle. "He wasn't violent at all. He was really the opposite of aggressive.""We're all just a family. It just amazes me really," said Kyle. "He wasn't violent at all. He was really the opposite of aggressive."
Ritzer's death is the latest incident this week to send police scrambling to a US school:Ritzer's death is the latest incident this week to send police scrambling to a US school:
A Gallup poll released on Wednesday suggested that 25% of US parents are concerned about their children being harmed while at school, making it one of their top crime concerns.A Gallup poll released on Wednesday suggested that 25% of US parents are concerned about their children being harmed while at school, making it one of their top crime concerns.