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Background: News footage of the scene at Janet Swallow”s home in Danvers, Mass., where she was found dead on March 11 (WBTS). Inset: Janet Swallow (GoFundMe).
An unsettling incident unfolded in Massachusetts when an 18-year-old, Anthony DeMayo, was apprehended for murder following a troubling sight reported by a local resident. The young man was seen meandering through the neighborhood with a bloody knife in hand, prompting immediate concern and police intervention.
DeMayo now faces serious charges, including murder and home invasion, after confessing to the brutal killing of 68-year-old Janet Swallow in her own Danvers residence. The Boston Globe reports that DeMayo’s arrest came swiftly on Thursday after a vigilant woman noticed him behaving erratically, brandishing a large knife and mimicking stabbing motions in the bushes. Disturbed by his demeanor, the witness described him as appearing “unhinged” and seemingly “mentally unwell,” leading her to promptly call 911.
Authorities quickly intercepted DeMayo, who allegedly admitted to officers that he had taken a life in Danvers the previous night. Court documents reveal a chilling account of events: DeMayo confessed to aimlessly driving through Danvers, searching for a target home to invade. He ultimately chose Swallow’s residence, gaining entry by breaking in through a kitchen window.
Once inside, DeMayo reportedly rifled through several rooms before finding Swallow asleep in her bed. It was then, according to the court documents, that he launched a vicious attack, repeatedly stabbing her in the neck. When the knife lodged in her flesh, DeMayo allegedly pulled her from the bed to the floor, leaving her to succumb to her injuries.
Following this heinous act, DeMayo allegedly returned to his home in Lynn, Massachusetts, concluding a night of violence with a chilling calmness that underscores the tragic nature of this crime.
Police said they were able to track DeMayo’s cellphone location to Danvers, where it reportedly did not move between midnight and 1 a.m. on Thursday.
The Boston Globe reported that after DeMayo was arrested, he indicated to investigators that “he planned on committing this act for a long time, and wanted to kill someone for a long time.”
The woman who called 911, Ashley O’Brien, spoke to local ABC affiliate WCVB about seeing DeMayo the afternoon after he allegedly murdered Swallow. O’Brien said, “He looked right in my eyes, and I just kind of looked away. And once he left, I just knew I had to call the cops because, I mean, he was definitely looking to hurt somebody.”
During a press conference on Thursday, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker called the alleged murder “random” and said that there was “no connection” between DeMayo and Swallow.
Swallow was an ICU nurse who left behind two adult sons. Local NBC affiliate WBTS reported that DeMayo was a high school senior at Bishop Fenwick High School. The school’s president, Tom Nunan Jr., said counselors were available on the campus for any students or staff who needed assistance.
DeMayo was scheduled to be arraigned in Salem District Court on Friday. He was charged with murder and home invasion.