Earlier today a Massachusetts jury found 16-year-old Philip Chism guilty in the rape and murder of Colleen Ritzer. Ritzer was Chism’s math teacher at Danvers High School. in 2013 a then 14-year-old Chism brutally raped and slashed the throat of Ms. Ritzer with a box cutter and is even believed to have violated her with a tree branch. The crimes were also believed to be premeditated. Chism’s defense tried arguing that their client was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time. The prosecution argued that he was faking any kind of mental illness which also momentarily delayed his trial previously.
Chism was tried as an adult however there is a possibility for parole as the Massachusetts Supreme Court has ruled that LWOP for minors is unconstitutional in all cases. Considering the brutality of Ms. Ritzer’s death and the fact that he tried to attack a Department of Youth Services female employee while in custody should show that regardless of his age Chism should never see the light of day ever again.
Real Crime with Trench Reynolds 