Two people have been arrested as police investigate the death of a Weymouth, Massachusetts, woman whose body was found after she was reported missing, authorities said Thursday.
A woman who'd been living with Christine Ruth Mello, 56, was arrested, along the roommate's associate, according to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office. Investigators with state and local police found that Kelly Shaw, 44, and John "Jack" Harper, 45, stole, issued forged checks and more.
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"There are no homicide charges in place at this time as the investigation continues," District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a statement, though the office noted that Mello's death continues to be investigated as an apparent homicide.
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Shaw and Harper were initially due in Quincy District Court Thursday afternoon, but the hearing was moved to Friday morning. It wasn't immediately clear if they had lawyers who could speak to their arrests.
Mello had been reported missing before her body was found Monday in her home on Lake Street, the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office has said. Details about how Mello's body was discovered haven't been released.
After she was reported missing, police showed up at the home on Saturday, neighbors said. Her body was found two days later.
"She was a light in my life," said Deborah Wilson, who knew Mello since they were teenagers. "She was always a fixer, she was everybody's mom, she tried to make everybody whole again. Sometimes that brought people who weren't so good for her into her life."
Wilson says Mello recently inherited money after her mom's passing, and was hoping to purchase the home she lived in.
"She just really loved it there, and she thought her inheritance could be enough to purchase it, and she was excited about that," said Wilson.
A neighbor who lives next door said the last time he saw Mello was in late February, but she responded to a text he sent her about 10 days ago.
"She apparently responded but we don't know if it was her. The texts were wonky, they didn't look right, it was weird. Not how she'd respond," Anthony Arredondo said.
Neighbors said Mello was living with a man. It was unclear if the man was part of the investigation.
