A horrifying scene awaited a concerned friend in Newton, Massachusetts, who discovered an elderly couple and the wife’s mother brutally slain on Sunday, June 25. 

The elderly couple, Jill and Bruno D’Amore, were frequent attendees of the local Our Lady Help of Christians Church, and had recently marked their golden anniversary. On the Sunday of their death a celebration had been planned in the church for the 50th anniversary. Their bodies were discovered when the friend saw that they were missing from church and went to their home. The community is grappling with the shock of this violent crime. 

The couple, in their 70s and of Italian origin, were well-respected figures in their community, known for their compassion and generosity.  A retired lieutenant from the Newton Fire Department, Jim Sbordone, spoke highly of them, stating, “These were fantastic Italian people who wouldn’t harm anyone.” The shocking incident, he added, was highly uncharacteristic of the typically peaceful neighborhood.

Police were alerted to the situation at approximately 10:14 am, and upon arrival, they discovered evidence of blunt-force trauma and knife injuries on the victims. The visible signs of forced entry suggest a break-in. 

Christopher Ferguson, 41, and also of Newton, has been arrested. His ex-girlfriend related that he was bi-polar and had been in a manic phase since February.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, in light of this brutal crime, advised local residents to take measures to ensure their homes are secure, check their surveillance systems for any suspicious activity, and report anything unusual to the authorities. Newton Police Chief John F. Carmichael Jr. assured increased police presence in the area while investigations into the triple homicide are underway.