Teen Murder Trial; Gronk Visits Local School; Longtime Police Chief Retires: Top 2015 Stories in Danvers

DANVERS, MA - 2015 zipped by for most people in town, until time seemed to stand still as the long-awaited trial of Philip Chism began this Fall.

Chism, is the Danvers teen and former Danvers High School student, who was found guilty of raping and murdering his math teacher, Colleen Ritzer of Andover, in 2013.

From the time the trial of the 16-year-old began, the town held its collective breath as the community followed the murder trial.

Just as one might expect, the trial stories dominated the top stories of the year.

• 16-Year-Old Found Guilty of Killing His Math Teacher
• Ritzer Family and Community Members React to Philip Chism Guilty Verdict
• Philip Chism Back in Court Day After Guilty Verdict
• Closing Arguments Monday in Teen’s Murder Trial
• Prosecution Rests in Philip Chism Murder Trial

The death of an eight-year-old local boy also captured the attention of people in town, and the community rallied around the grieving family.

In other news from the year that is ending, Danvers Police Chief Danvers Police Chief Neil F. Ouellette’s last day on the job was in May.

“I always said I wouldn’t be a seat warmer,” Chief Ouellette said at the time.

On a lighter note, Hollywood’s Lights, Camera, Action came to town in March. And, who could forget the stir that New England Patriots Rob Gronkowski visited a local school in October?

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