Gilda and Bruno D’Amore were expected at church to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, but instead became victims of a brutal murder.
When they didn’t show up at Our Lady Help of Christians parish Sunday, a fellow parishioner went to check on them at home, according to the Newton Police Department in Massachusetts. At around 10:14 a.m., she called 911 to report that they were dead.
In addition to Gilda, 73, and Bruno, 74, Gilda’s 97-year-old mother, Lucia Arpino, was found dead in the Broadway Street home. Per the Medical Examiner, Gilda’s cause of death was multiple stab wounds. Autopsies of the other victims were pending as of Monday.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael confirmed Monday that 41-year-old Christopher Ferguson had been charged with their murder, as well as two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and burglary.
“The preliminary investigation indicated some signs of forced entry including broken glass and missing screens at the basement windows,” said police. “Forensic specialists from the Massachusetts Crime Scene Section were immediately called to the scene and were able to collect a variety of forensic evidence.”
During an investigation, authorities tracked down a video from Albemarle Road that depicted a male walking four-tenths of a mile from the victim’s home. He was later identified as Ferguson, and a footprint left in the home has also been traced back to him.
“Footprints, like fingerprints, are unique,” said police.
According to CBS News, District Attorney Ryan described the footprint as “blood” and said a paperweight covered in blood was also found in the home. She said it appeared Ferguson broke in through a basement window. Ferguson was taken to a local hospital Monday.
He was expected to be arraigned Tuesday at Newton District Court. Police said that the alleged murders appear to be a random act and that investigation is ongoing.
Staff from Our Lady Help of Christians shared a letter from Paul and Ginny Arpino, who serve as the church’s choir director and coordinator of pastoral care, respectively.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share that the terrible tragedy that happened yesterday in Newton hit very close to home… impacting our faith community and our own family,” it said. “Jill and Bruno D’Amore and Jill's mother Lucia Arpino lost their lives in a senseless act of violence.
They were our cousins and Aunt… and to Rita (Dugan) and Isabella they were more than best friends, they were adopted family.”
They said Gilda had worked to beautify the church, including caring for flowers, while Bruce was known as “head chef,” and loved flipping burgers for the parish picnic. Lucia never missed a 10 a.m. mass and she attended the church for 60 years alongside her husband.
“Lucia will be especially missed on the upcoming Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festa weekend as she faithfully walked in that procession through the streets of Nonantum well into her 90s,” said the letter.
“On behalf of all of us, I want to extend our sincere condolences to the family of the victims in this case,” said Chief Carmichael in a Facebook post.
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