Horrific Details Emerge In Danvers Woman's Killing, Teen's Arrest

UPDATED 1:30 p.m.

DANVERS, MA — The horrific timeline of a Danvers woman's stabbing death and the arrest of a Bishop Fenwick student on murder and home invasion charges emerged as the teen was arraigned in Salem District Court on Friday.

According to prosecutors, Anthony DeMayo, 18, of Lynn, confessed to Lynn police to the killing after he was found walking on Standish Road in the city carrying what appeared to be a blood-stained knife.

Court documents said DeMayo told officers he had planned to kill someone "for a long time."

DeMayo entered a not guilty plea on Friday. He was ordered held without bail and to undergo further medical evaluations at Bridgewater State Hospital. He is next scheduled to appear in court in April.

Those who lived in the Standish Road neighborhood called police after they said they saw DeMayo acting erratically, waving the knife as he walked down the road.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said the ensuing investigation led them to the Amherst Street home in Danvers, where they found 68-year-old Janet Swallow dead.

"We believe, as of this point, that DeMayo acted alone," Tucker said in a Thursday night news conference.

Prosecutors said it appears DeMayo chose to break into the Danvers home randomly after scoping out other homes in that area, and that there appears to be no connection between the suspect and the victim.

Prosecutors said the teen found the victim sleeping and stabbed her in the neck.

"We are aware of the investigation, and the information released regarding that investigation, by the Danvers Police Department and the Essex County District Attorney's Office," Bishop Fenwick President Tom Nunan said in a statement released on Friday. "We know this matter involves serious charges against an 18-year-old student who is in the custody and care of the proper authorities.

"The reports reveal the incident took place off campus, did not involve any other members of our school, did not seem to indicate any connection between the victim and the person being charged with the crime, and does not present any threat to the Bishop Fenwick community."

Nunan said the school is cooperating fully with the investigation.

"As a community of faith and hope, our focus is on our faculty and staff, our families, and especially our students. We are here to help them, to provide for them the support they need, and to be present for them in this terribly difficult moment," the statement said. "To that end, additional counselors and other trained professionals will be on campus (Friday) and Monday."