Three elderly people, including a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, were found dead inside a home in Massachusetts as officials ask residents to remain vigilant, authorities said.
After the couple failed to arrive at church Sunday morning, a person who knew the victims called 911 around 10:14 a.m. local time Sunday after finding the three victims dead “from apparent stab wounds and blunt trauma,” Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Newton Chief of Police John Carmichael said in a joint statement.
The victims appeared to be residents of the home, police said.
“The investigation into an apparent triple homicide remains active and ongoing at this time on Broadway Street and the Nonantum and Newtonville neighborhoods of Newton,” the statement said. “The preliminary investigation suggests that there were signs of forced entry into the home.”
“Two of the individuals were celebrating a golden wedding anniversary this weekend. As you can imagine, this would be tragic on any day. To have family gathered for this kind of a celebration makes it particularly tragic,” Ryan said.
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Police investigating another attempted break-in
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police and the Newton Police Department are also investigating another attempted break-in about a half mile from the location of the deaths.
“At this time it is not known if the two incidents are connected,” the statement said.
The three victims have not been identified and authorities have not announced any arrests.
Newton police ask residents to remain vigilant as investigation continues
Newton police are asking nearby residents to check their home cameras to see if anything stands out as residents saw an increase in police presence Sunday night.
“We are again asking people to remain vigilant, check door and window locks and report any suspicious activity to Newton police,” the statement said.
Newton police had officers patrolling the area throughout Sunday night and on Monday.
Contributing: The Associated Press
