Anthony DeMayo: A Shadow Over Danvers — High School Senior Charged in ‘Random’ Stabbing of Sleeping Grandmother
DANVERS — The quiet, tree-lined streets of Danvers are once again gripped by the unthinkable. Just over a decade after the town was scarred by the murder of teacher Colleen Ritzer, a new tragedy has surfaced—one defined by its chilling randomness and a young man’s alleged “long-time” desire to kill.
On Friday, Anthony DeMayo, an 18-year-old senior at the prestigious Bishop Fenwick High School, was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation before facing charges for the murder of 68-year-old Janet Swallow. The details emerging from the Salem District Court paint a harrowing picture of a midnight predator and a life extinguished without provocation.
The Fatal Encounter at 17 Amherst St.
The nightmare began in the early hours of Thursday morning. According to court documents, DeMayo told investigators he spent the night driving through various communities, searching for a target. He eventually stopped in front of a house under construction in Danvers—a “one-level, black house on the corner.”
The statement of facts alleges a methodical, cold-blooded entry:
- The Break-In: DeMayo allegedly ripped a screen from a back kitchen window to gain access to the home.
- The Attack: After prowling through the rooms, he found Janet Swallow asleep in her bed. He allegedly confessed to stabbing her in the neck until his knife became stuck, eventually pulling her lifeless body onto the floor.
- The Retreat: Following the attack, DeMayo reportedly drove back to his Lynn home, changed his clothes, and attempted to resume a normal routine.
A Trail of Blood and a Chilling Confession
The case cracked open on Thursday afternoon, not in Danvers, but seven miles away in Lynn. Residents called 911 to report a young man walking down Standish Street brandishing a knife. When police intercepted DeMayo, they noticed a “red-brown stain consistent with blood” on the blade.
What began as a weapons charge quickly spiraled into a murder investigation. While in custody, DeMayo allegedly dropped a bombshell: “I killed a woman in Danvers last night.”
During subsequent interviews at Salem Hospital, DeMayo’s statements grew even more disturbing. He reportedly told officers that he “planned on committing this act for a long time” and had harbored the urge to “kill someone” for an extended period.
“This is just a very difficult case because of the randomness of this violence,” said Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker. “Investigators found no apparent connection between DeMayo and Swallow.”
A Community in Mourning
Janet Swallow was a mother of two, a neighbor, and a fixture in her community. On Friday, the home at 17 Amherst St. stood as a silent testament to the violence, with police tape fluttering in the wind.
The tragedy has also sent shockwaves through Bishop Fenwick High School, a private Roman Catholic institution in Peabody where DeMayo was weeks away from graduation. Tom Nunan Jr., the school’s president, issued a statement expressing that the school is cooperating fully with law enforcement while offering prayers for the victim’s family.
Echoes of the Past
For Danvers residents, the arrest of a local student for a brutal murder feels like a recurring nightmare. In 2013, the town was devastated when 14-year-old Philip Chism murdered his teacher, Colleen Ritzer. The parallels—the youth of the perpetrator and the sheer brutality of the act—have reopened old wounds in a town that prides itself on safety and community spirit.
What’s Next for the Case?
Judge Joanna Rodriguez has paused the formal arraignment process to prioritize a Section 12 evaluation. This will determine two critical factors:
- Competence: Whether DeMayo understands the charges against him and can assist in his own defense.
- Criminal Responsibility: His mental state at the exact moment of the alleged crime.
As the legal process unfolds, the family of Janet Swallow is left to grapple with a loss that defies logic. A woman who went to sleep in the safety of her own home never woke up, the victim of a stranger’s long-simmering and inexplicable dark impulse.
Would you like me to look up any updates on the court proceedings or the results of the psychiatric evaluation?