Ring camera obtained by Boston 25 News shows the teen charged with killing a Danvers woman in her sleep walking through a neighborhood before his arrest.
18-year-old Anthony DeMayo, a senior at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, was arraigned in Salem District Court for the stabbing death of 68-year-old Janet Swallow in her Danvers home.
A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
The video Boston 25 News has obtained allegedly shows DeMayo walking through a neighborhood the morning after Swallow’s murder.
Ashley O’Brien’s Ring camera caught what appeared to be DeMayo walking through her neighborhood Thursday afternoon.
“He was just kind of bobbing and weaving through the street,” she said. “He was swinging his arm around and I was like, ‘What is he doing?’”
She said he was, “Very disturbed, unhinged, paranoid. His head was on a swivel constantly.”
O’Brien claimed he was slashing at the bushes across the street with a 6-inch knife in his hand.
“That’s when I realized something was wrong,” she said. “We had to make a call.”
With her mother Sheila, she called 911. Police arrested DeMayo shortly after.
Meanwhile, neighbors next to Swallow’s longtime Danvers home on Amherst Street were still in shock Friday.
“It’s hard to put it into words because it’s just so surprising,” said one neighbor. “The fact that it was random is even worse like no one deserves that .”
A memorial with flowers grew outside the home that was taped off for investigation Thursday night.
A neighbor laying flowers added, “It’s such a random act of violence that nobody saw coming... It’s so close to home, I just wanted to send my love and know that people are thinking of her and her family.”
In Court, a prosecutor said DeMayo told police he killed a woman in Danvers the night before.
DeMayo was sent to Salem Hospital.
Police say they found bloody clothes in his home.
Cell phone data led to the victim, Janet Swallow’s home on Amherst Street in Danvers, where she was found fatally stabbed.
It appears she was attacked while she slept.
“Based on the investigation, DeMayo got into her residence by climbing into a window and stabbed Ms. Swallow while she was in bed. It does not appear any items were missing from the home. Investigators believe the defendant acted alone at that time and this was in fact a random attack,” Prosecutor Erin McAndrew told the court.
After a brief evaluation, a forensic psychologist told the court DeMayo has depressive symptoms and thoughts of suicide.
At Bishop Fenwick High School, the president issued a statement that said in part: “We are cooperating fully with local law enforcement… Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, her family, and all who have been affected by this horrific tragedy.”
After his arraignment, DeMayo’s family had no comment.
Anthony DeMayo was ordered held without bail.
He was also ordered to undergo further psychological testing at Bridgewater State Hospital.
He is due back in court on April 1st.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information beco,s available.
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