DANVERS, Mass. – WKRN reports that a former Clarksville student is being held without bond in Massachusetts for allegedly killing his math teacher there.
Authorities say 14-year-old Philip Chism killed Colleen Ritzer, a popular teacher at Danvers High School in Danvers, Massachusetts north of Boston. Ritzer’s body was discovered in the woods behind the school early Wednesday.
Chism, who was reported missing Tuesday after he didn’t return home from school, was found walking alongside a road Wednesday morning.
A motive for the teacher’s murder was not immediately known. Ritzer was 24 years old.
Multiple reports say Chism slashed Ritzer’s throat with a box cutter.
Clarksville school officials told News 2 Chism attended Burt Elementary before he transferred to a school out of state. He returned to Clarksville to attend Rossview Middle School, but did not return for the 2013-2014 school year.
Chism is scheduled to appear in court in Massachusetts November 22.
*The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Colleen Ritzer (Photo courtesy of WKRN)
