Man Arraigned in Connection with Fatal Stabbing
WINCHESTER – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Winchester Chief of Police Peter MacDonnell have confirmed that Jeffrey Yao, 23, of Winchester, was arraigned today in Woburn District Court in connection with the double stabbing that occurred on Saturday at the Winchester Public Library.
Yao was arraigned on one count of murder and one count of armed assault with intent to murder. Judge Timothy Gailey ordered the defendant held without bail. The next date in this case will be a status hearing on April 11, 2018.
On Saturday, February 24, at approximately 10:30 a.m. Winchester Police received multiple 911 calls from library personnel on a landline in the Winchester Public Library for reports that two people had been stabbed. Police were able to respond within three minutes and upon arrival located a 22-year-old female, identified as Deane Kenny Stryker, and a 77-year-old male, both Winchester residents, suffering from stab wounds.
Both victims were transported to area hospitals. The female victim subsequently died from her injuries. The Chief Office of the Medical Examiner has ruled Ms. Stryker’s cause of death to be multiple stab wounds and the manner of death to be homicide.
The male victim has been treated and released.
The preliminary investigation suggests that the female victim was seated at a table in the library when the suspect approached her, unprovoked, and began stabbing her from behind with an approximately ten inch hunting knife. A number of other people came to her aid including a 77-year-old man who had been sitting near her in the reading room. While attempting to intervene the man was stabbed in the arm. During the attack Ms. Stryker managed to get up and attempted to flee but the defendant pursued her and continued to assault her.
Several other patrons approached the defendant and they were ultimately able to separate him from Ms. Stryker. Yao was placed into custody at the library and transported to the Winchester Police Department. The circumstances surrounding the stabbing, including the motive, are under investigation.
The surviving victim has asked that our office relay his request for privacy at this time.
This is an open investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Winchester Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The prosecutors assigned to this case are Assistant District Attorney Kate Cimini and Carrie Spiros. The Victim Witness Advocate is Anne Foley.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction over all death investigations, all media inquiries should be directed to the District Attorney’s Office at (781) 897-8325.