The man charged in the triple killing that rocked the Newton, Massachusetts, community Sunday appeared in court on Tuesday, pleading not guilty.
Christopher Ferguson, 41, was ordered held without bail, which his attorney did not oppose.
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Ferguson is due back in court on July 25.
The alleged murder has rocked the Newton neighborhood of Nonantum, and the city is grappling with what has been described as a "terrible tragedy."
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Two of the victims — Jill and Bruno D'Amore — were supposed to be renewing their wedding vows for their 50th anniversary Sunday morning at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church. The third victim was Jill's mother, Lucia Arpino.
Ferguson was identified as the suspect in the killings by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan during a news conference Monday night, where she explained that he so far faces one murder charge, as well burglary and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury. Additional charges are expected once autopsies on the three victims have been completed — prosecutors said in court Tuesday that those autopsies were being completed Tuesday.
Ferguson was employed at Framingham Public Schools as a campus aide from February 2021 until March 2023, a spokesperson confirmed to NBC10 Boston Tuesday.
The three victims were found by a close friend and neighbor Sunday morning, who called 911 at around 10:15 a.m. after discovering the bodies in a bedroom. Responding officers found the three dead inside their home on Broadway Street in the Nonantum village of Newton, having apparently suffered from blunt force trauma and stab wounds, according to authorities.
Law enforcement also noted signs of forced entry.
Ferguson, who has been in the hospital since Sunday, was arrested after forensic analysis of ceramic tile outside the bedroom showed bloody prints of bare feet, according to prosecutors. The footprints led authorities to arrest Ferguson, who was identified after being seen in surveillance footage walking shirtless with no shoes and "what appeared to be a staggering gait" on Albermarle Road, less than a mile from the crime scene and about 100 yards from his own home on Washington Street, according to Ryan.
Investigators had said they believed the attack on the family was random. Monday night, Ryan said with the suspect in custody, that still appeared to be the case.
A letter from family members, sent out by the Sacred Heart and Our Lady's Collaborative, described the victims as an integral part of the church community and longtime members.
"It is with a heavy heart that we share that the terrible tragedy that happened yesterday in Newton hit very close to home…impacting our faith community and our own family," read a letter the church shared from two people who work there, who identified themselves as the cousins of the D'Amores and niece and nephew of Arpino.
Jill was described as spending "endless hours in the care of our church," gardening and managing the grounds and other beautification. Bruno was said to be known for his "big voice and his exuberant personality," especially when he stood in as chef flipping burgers at the parish picnic.
According to the church, the D'Amores leave behind three children and five grandchildren.
"Wonderful, salt of the earth people, you know that when bad things happen to good people, this is a really really good people, salt of the earth," said Father Dan Riley in an interview with NBC10 Boston.
The church is set to hold a memorial Mass on Tuesday night.
Ferguson remained hospitalized and was undergoing a mental health evaluation.
