The murder trial of a man accused of stabbing his wife, a beloved local teacher, to death in their Revere, Massachusetts, home began on Tuesday.
Andrew MacCormack was arrested following the Sept. 23, 2017 death of 30-year-old Vanessa MacCormack, who was found strangled with stab wounds to her neck and face. Authorities said she had a trash bag over head when her body was discovered.
Prosecutor Ian Polumbaum recalled the gruesome details of Vanessa’s injuries during opening statements Tuesday, and said it was possible that the stab wounds to her neck were "inflicted postmortem, as a gesture of overkill."
He said Andrew tried to clean up the crime scene with bleach, pouring some on the victim’s back, a claim investigators backed when they said Vanessa’s body had chemical burns consistent with that of bleach.
Polumbaum said Vanessa discovered her husband had been stealing money from her before her death. According to the prosecutor, the victim’s wedding ring went missing and she found out that her husband had forged checks to himself from an account she shared with her mother.
Andrew MacCormack's lawyer, John Hayes, said Tuesday that prosecutors have failed to establish that his client killed his wife. He said in text messages between the two there are plenty of accusations and criticism, but no threats or suggestions that the relationship was violent.
On the 911 call Andrew made after finding his wife's body, Hayes said "You will hear the pain. You will hear the terror. It's right there."
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Investigators said Andrew spent up to $500 a week on cocaine until his wife found out. When she texted the defendant that she would consult a divorce attorney if he didn’t "shape up," he responded with, "Ur crazy, I will never sign anything."
The first witness called to the stand was Vanessa mother’s, Karen Masucci.
Masucci said the couple married in 2015 and had their daughter in 2016. According to the witness, Vanessa told her of “unusual incidents” that happened in 2017, such as $6,000 being stolen from her bank account and her wedding ring being stolen.
Vanessa was a beloved mother and second-grade teacher at Connery Elementary School in Lynn.
Her daughter, who was 1 at the time of the slaying, is believed to have been present during the murder but was found unharmed.
Andrew MacCormack pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge and has maintained his innocence.
