ICYMI: Ritzer Family Seeks Answers in Lawsuit Against Danvers

DANVERS, MA – The Ritzer family filed a lawsuit this morning seeking answers in the murder of their daughter Colleen nearly three years ago.

The suit names as defendants the town of Danvers, Danvers Public Schools, the school's cleaning company SJ Services Inc. of Danvers, and the architecture firm that designed the school. The lawsuit, filed in Lawrence Superior Court, claims wrongful death against DiNisco Design Partnership of Boston, negligent infliction of emotional distress against all defendants, and compensation to enhance school safety programs and to contribute to the legacy of Colleen.

"By and through this action, the Plaintiffs seek answers to many questions that have arisen as a result of the horrific events culminating in the death of Colleen on October 22, 2013," reads the lawsuit.

Colleen Ritzer, 24, was raped and killed nearly three years ago after she stayed late at her job as a math teacher at Danvers High School. Philip Chism – a 14-year-old student at the time of the murder – was found guilty of murder in the first degree in December 2015.

"Colleen’s death was a tragedy for the whole community and our hearts continue to go out to the Ritzer family," said Town Manager Steve Bartha in a statement Wednesday. "We respect the legal process that the family is pursuing. As this is now a matter of pending litigation, we will have no further comment. Thank you for understanding."

There is a general three-year statute of limitations in Massachusetts for such a lawsuit. The lawsuit filed Wednesday states that the plaintiffs, the Ritzer family, are not seeking personal financial compensation. It also lists the following questions:

• With a state-of-the-art security system, why was no one monitoring the cameras that were placed throughout the campus?
• What were the purposes of the security system?
• What measures have been taken to correct the deficiencies in the security system?
• What measures are planned to address security deficiencies in the school?
• In October of 2013, what was the school's policies with regard to communications with non-English speaking contractors and/or employees?
• What procedures have changed to improve those procedures so there is no breakdown in communications?
• Why was Colleen in the academic wing by herself?
• How could Chism roam so freely from the classroom to the recycling bin area, back to the ladies room, out to the woods, back to the school and back to the woods again, at times visibly showing blood, without being noticed by personnel or being identified on the video surveillance system?