No Bail For Man Charged With First-Degree Murder In Wife's Death

REVERE, MA – A Revere man remains held without bail Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of his wife at their home Sept. 23. Andrew MacCormack, 29, is accused of killing Vanessa MacCormack, a popular elementary school teacher, "following some conflict in the marriage" that included "suspected drug use, denied by him but confirmed by the investigation," Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum said in court Tuesday.

Police found Vanessa MacCormack unresponsive at 93 Grand View Ave. around 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, following a 911 call placed by her husband. Her body showed "obvious signs of physical trauma," according to the Suffolk District Attorney's office. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Andrew MacCormack was arrested days later and charged with his wife's murder. At MacCormack's arraignment in September, prosecutors alleged his drug habit was putting a strain on their marriage, costing the family hundreds of dollars a week. His wife, with whom he shared a 1-year-old daughter, had reportedly threatened divorce unless he got clean and stopped draining the couple's resources.

Polumbaum reiterated those claims Tuesday, saying Andrew MacCormack had "ruined their lives."

Authorities allege MacCormack left his home in Revere around 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 23, circled a liquor store a few minutes away and drove back. He left again at approximately 12:50 p.m. and took a "circuitous" route to his friend's home in Saugus, where he helped with some carpentry work, authorities said. At 2:15 p.m. he allegedly met someone in East Boston to buy cocaine and returned home after stopping in a parking lot for about 30 seconds.

During this time, MacCormack sent texts to his wife's phone and contacted her mother, Polumbaum said. He added that evidence suggests Vanessa MacCormack was already dead.

Polumbaum said MacCormack was on the phone with his mother-in-law when he entered the home. He allegedly told her that his wife's keys and car were there, then said she was on the floor and told his mother-in-law to call 911, according to Polumbaum.

His mother-in-law told him to perform CPR, at which point MacCormack allegedly told her his wife was dead.

Upon arrival, police found Vanessa MacCormack face down in the bedroom with "significant" trauma to her head and neck, the Suffolk District Attorney's office said. Further examination by pathologists showed she had been stabbed multiple times in the back and sides of her neck, had multiple slash wounds on the front of her neck and had broken bones and cartilage inside her neck, Polumbaum said.

There were no signs of forced entry, according to the DA. Investigators said there was a strong smell of bleach inside the home, and Vanessa MacCormack's body showed signs of chemical burn consistent with bleach. When speaking with police, Andrew MacCormack allegedly complained about a rash he said was from a new detergent.

Investigators found no bleach or bleach containers inside the home, Polumbaum said. MacCormack's car had traces of blood on the steering wheel, driver's seat and door, according to Polumbaum.

MacCormack will next appear in court Dec. 12.

Image via Mass. State Police