Christopher Ferguson charged in murders of Newton couple and mother, held without bail
NEWTON - Christopher Ferguson, the Newton man charged in the horrific murders of a couple and elderly mother, was held without bail after appearing in court via Zoom Tuesday. A not guilty plea was entered by a lawyer on his behalf.
Gilda D'Amore, 73, her husband Bruno D'Amore, 74, and Gilda's 97-year-old mother, Lucia Arpino, were all stabbed and beaten to death inside their Broadway Street home early Sunday morning.
The couple was scheduled to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in a celebration at Our Lady Help of Christians church, but they never showed up. A friend then went to check on them and found all three had been killed.
Investigators launched a search and on Monday they arrested Ferguson, 41, who they say was known to police. Investigators said surveillance video from a home on Albemarle Road showed him walking with no shirt or shoes in that area, which is just under a half-mile from the victims' home, at 5:20 a.m.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said they also positively matched a bloody footprint left in the home to Ferguson. Investigators found a paperweight covered in blood in the home and said it appeared Ferguson broke in through a basement window and other windows had screens pried off.
Ryan said it appeared to be a random act and that Ferguson had no known connection to the family.
He's charged with murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and burglary.
Gilda D'Amore's autopsy found she died from "multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma." Her husband and mother's autopsies are expected to be completed Tuesday and more charges could be filed, Ryan said.
Ferguson was taken to a hospital Monday and will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Newton District Court.
In 2005, Ferguson was charged with assault and battery in Newton, but a psychiatric evaluation and drug screening were ordered and the case was dismissed a year later.
Ferguson worked as a campus aide in Framingham Public Schools for two years, but resigned last March.
A memorial mass was held at Our Lady Help of Christians church Tuesday night to honor the lives of the victims. "It's a neighborhood, it's a family, this parish is a family, the togetherness, the love and the mutual support and just bringing people together with each other, around their faith, around Jesus and the blessed mother, it's huge," said Fr. Dan Riley.
