At The Hands of The Student: The Murder of Colleen Ritzer

Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan

When Phillip Chism, 14, doesn't come home from school, his mother calls the police to report him missing.

As the town begins to look for the 9th grader, word spreads around town that a 24-year-old teacher, Colleen Ritzer, is also missing. Chism is found walking along a road just after midnight. After a quick search of his backpack, he is arrested.

Later in the morning, Colleen Ritzer's body is found on school grounds, sexually positioned with a folded note next to her body that says, "I hate you all."

Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the story of the student from Tennessee and the horrifying final moments in the life of Colleen Ritzer.

Transcription Highlights

00:01:00 Introduction of location, suspect, and victim

00:02:53 Suspect is student, 14, victim is a teacher

00:04:04 Discussion of suspect family

00:08:22 Talk about motive and possible “trigger”

00:11:49 Discussion of why victim went to public bathroom

00:15:28 Discussion of witness and surveillance video

00:19:07 Talk about investigation, pinging cell phones

00:21:47 Discussion of suspect on surveillance video

00:27:25 Talk about body being covered

00:30:36 Breaking down the evidence

00:34:35 Discussion of sentence

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