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DA: Son of woman found dead in basement shot by police, will be charged with her murder

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — Robin Litwalk is still in shock after learning her coworker and friend of 30 years was killed.

Pamela Wood was a speech therapist at the Greenwood School in Wakefield, and she shared an office with Litwalk, who’s an occupational therapist.

“Whenever I’d come into the room, she couldn’t see me coming in because we had file cabinets separating our desks, and she’d say ‘is that my friend Robin?” said Litwalk. “She was an amazing speech therapist, the kids loved her, and we all loved her.”

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan says Wood was supposed to meet a student for an 8:30 a.m. appointment Tuesday.

“When she didn’t appear for that appointment, the school reached out to her family,” said Ryan. “The family went to the home but did not have a key to access the home, they subsequently requested the assistance of the police department.”

Police found Wood dead in the basement of her home on Otis Street Tuesday.

Then the DA says the victim’s son, Timothy Martin, charged at officers holding a knife above his head.

“Constrained by the small quarters in the basement, and the suspect refusing to put down the knife at their command, two Wakefield officers discharged their weapons striking Mr. Martin,” said Ryan.

The suspect was taken to a hospital after he was shot by police, where he remains in the ICU.

Litwalk says Wood used to tell her about issues she had with 23-year-old her son, who had recently moved to New Hampshire.

“She really worried about him and she loved him, and she only wanted the best for him, she was a wonderful mother,” said Litwalk.

Now the DA says the victim’s son will soon be charged with killing his mother.

“My heart breaks for him too because I think he was very depressed and lonely and you know, he just snapped,” said Litwalk.

The Wakefield schools superintendent says they’re devastated by the sudden loss of Pamela Wood, and they will have counseling services at the school where she worked for the rest of the week.

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