Teen Charged In Murder Of Danvers Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Rape Charge
SALEM, Mass. (AP) — A 15-year-old Massachusetts boy charged with killing his math teacher has pleaded not guilty to a second charge of raping her.
Philip Chism is charged in the October killing of Colleen Ritzer, a 24-year-old teacher at Danvers High School.
Chism has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, robbery and murder. He was indicted last week on the second rape charge. In court documents state police say Chism admitted killing Ritzer but denied raping her.
Authorities allege Chism raped and killed Ritzer after she asked him to stay after school for extra help. He was 14 at the time.
Police want to conduct a forensic examination of Chism's cellphone to see if he memorialized the killing in photos, video or audio recordings.
Chism had recently moved to Danvers from Clarksville, Tenn.
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