Golden anniversary turns tragic as couple, relative are fatally stabbed and beaten
Family members of the victims embrace following the arraignment of Christopher Ferguson, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at District Court in Newton, Mass. Ferguson, 41, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Tuesday in connection with a crime that has rattled a Boston suburb and a church community: the apparently random weekend killings of a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, along with the woman鈥檚 97-year-old mother.
In this undated photo provided by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Jill D'Amore, left, and Bruno D'Amore, right, pose with children. The D'Amores, who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend, and Jill D'Amore's 97-year-old mother, were found dead in their home in Newton, Mass., on Sunday, June 25, 2023, in an apparent random killing.
An investigator walks out of a home along Broadway Street, Sunday, June 25, 2023, in Newton, Mass. A couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary were stabbed to death, along with another family member, in what law enforcement officials said was probably a random attack.
Family members of the victims embrace following the arraignment of Christopher Ferguson, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at District Court in Newton, Mass. Ferguson, 41, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Tuesday in connection with a crime that has rattled a Boston suburb and a church community: the apparently random weekend killings of a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, along with the woman鈥檚 97-year-old mother.
Family members of the victims listen during the arraignment of Christopher Ferguson, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at District Court in Newton, Mass. Ferguson, 41, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Tuesday in connection with a crime that has rattled a Boston suburb and a church community: the apparently random weekend killings of a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, along with the woman鈥檚 97-year-old mother.
Family members of the victims listen during the arraignment of Christopher Ferguson, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at District Court in Newton, Mass. Ferguson, 41, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Tuesday in connection with a crime that has rattled a Boston suburb and a church community: the apparently random weekend killings of a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, along with the woman鈥檚 97-year-old mother.
Family members of the victims embrace following the arraignment of Christopher Ferguson, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at District Court in Newton, Mass. Ferguson, 41, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail Tuesday in connection with a crime that has rattled a Boston suburb and a church community: the apparently random weekend killings of a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, along with the woman鈥檚 97-year-old mother.
A passerby laid flowers across from the home along Broadway Street, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Newton, Mass. A couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary were stabbed to death, along with another family member, in what law enforcement officials said was probably a random attack.
A passerby laid flowers across from the home along Broadway Street, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Newton, Mass. A couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary were stabbed to death, along with another family member, in what law enforcement officials said was probably a random attack.
NEWTON, Mass. (AP) 鈥� Jill D鈥橝more helped make Our Lady Help of Christians Church beautiful, tending to flowers and decorating the parish season by season. Her mother, 97-year-old Lucia Arpino, never missed morning Mass until the coronavirus pandemic hit. And Jill鈥檚 husband, Bruno, proudly flipped burgers at the parish picnic.
Their apparently random beating and stabbing deaths over the weekend 鈥� when the church had planned to celebrate the D鈥橝mores鈥� 50th wedding anniversary in a post-Communion blessing 鈥� have shaken the parish and the wider community of Newton, a city comprising a network of villages in suburban Boston.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a shocking loss, the grief is horrifying. But I鈥檝e got to say the love coming forth from the people has just been not surprising but so edifying and inspiring,鈥� said the church鈥檚 pastor, the Rev. Dan Riley.
Christopher Ferguson, 41, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Newton District Court to a murder charge in the death of Jill D鈥橝more, 73, along with two counts of assault and one count of burglary. Additional charges are expected in the deaths of Bruno D鈥橝more, 74, and Arpino, 97, after those autopsies are completed.
Jill D鈥橝more had 32 beating and stab wounds to her upper body, including her head and face, prosecutor Nicole Allain said in court.
Ferguson, also of Newton, was arrested Monday, but it appears he had no other connection to the victims, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. Investigators have yet to identify a motive.
Judge Mary Beth Heffernan ordered Ferguson held without bail until a probable cause hearing July 25. During Tuesday鈥檚 arraignment, at least eight relatives of the victims listened silently in court as prosecutors detailed their investigation. They left without talking to reporters.
A Mass of Peace was held Tuesday evening, but reporters were not allowed inside.
鈥淏runo was known for his big voice and his exuberant personality,鈥� and for being treated as 鈥渉ead chef鈥� at picnics, Paul and Ginny Arpino, who were related to the victims, wrote in a letter to the church community.
Jill D鈥橝more, they said, had taken on the ministry of beautifying the church鈥檚 environment.
鈥淲ithout a single day of liturgical training she simply followed her heart, caring for the flowers and decorating for the liturgical seasons,鈥� they wrote.
And, they wrote, 鈥淟ucia 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 90鈥檚,鈥� referring to the heavily Italian American neighborhood where they lived.
The victims were discovered in a bedroom by a friend shortly after they failed to show up for 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Allain said. The friend called police, who discovered signs of forced entry through a window. Investigators found bare footprints on the tile floor, along with blood droplets and fingerprints.
Surveillance video from a nearby home showed a man with no shirt or shoes staggering not far from the D鈥橝mores鈥� home shortly before 5:30 a.m., Allain said. Several police officers identified the man as Ferguson, whose footprints matched bloody prints found in the home, she said.
Investigators visited Ferguson鈥檚 father, who acknowledged that a photo they showed him could be his son, according to charging documents. They then visited an ex-girlfriend of Ferguson, who detailed mental health challenges he has faced since February. They finally visited the home he shared with his sister and arrested him, the documents show. Ferguson was taken to Saint Elizabeth鈥檚 Medical Center for evaluation.
Several bouquets of flowers were placed on the sidewalk outside the D鈥橝mores鈥� home. A police car was parked in the driveway and the yard was cordoned off by yellow crime tape.
Domenic Zirolla said he first met Bruno D鈥橝more when they were both teenagers in Italy before they decided to move to the U.S.
鈥淗e came here before me, a couple of years before me. Then when I came, he used to come to my house all the time. Then we used to go to the clubs and dancing down the North End,鈥� said Zirolla, 73, referring to the traditionally Italian-American neighborhood of Boston.
After Bruno married, he would still see him around the neighborhood, either at the local doughnut shop or at an annual Italian festival.
鈥淗e was a very nice guy,鈥� Zirolla said.
Joe DiMambro said that he and Lucia Arpino came from the same town in Italy 鈥� Sant鈥橢lia 鈥� and that she was a cousin to his godfather. When the two joined a group on a trip to Italy years later, he said, he drove her back to the town.
鈥淚鈥檝e known them for all my life here,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ike I said to her. I don鈥檛 say we鈥檙e relatives, but we鈥檙e paisans.鈥�
A neighbor from across the street recalled seeing Arpino tending to her garden and going on walks with relatives. Lou Didino said nothing like this had ever happened in the sleepy, residential neighborhood.
鈥淚t was a shock, a real shock,鈥� the 61-year-old electrician said. 鈥淎ll of sudden an incident like that and now the neighborhood is tainted. You have to be careful now.鈥�
LeBlanc reported from Cambridge, Massachusetts.