An 18-year-old Lynn resident is facing a murder charge following the death of a 68-year-old woman found inside her Danvers home.
According to Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, the investigation began Thursday afternoon after authorities received reports of a young man behaving erratically on Standish Road in Lynn. Witnesses said he was walking with a knife that appeared to have blood on it. He was later taken to Salem Hospital for evaluation.
Police subsequently went to his Lynn residence. Information gathered there, along with additional evidence, directed investigators to a home on Amherst Street in Danvers.
Inside the residence, officers discovered the body of 68-year-old Janet Swallow. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, identified as Anthony DeMayo, a senior at Bishop Fenwick High School in Peabody, has been charged with murder. Officials said they have not identified any known relationship between DeMayo and Swallow and believe the attack may have been random.
DeMayo is scheduled to be arraigned in Salem District Court on Friday. Authorities indicated that further details about the case are expected to be released during court proceedings.
It was not immediately known whether DeMayo has secured legal representation.
