Natick Deaths Ruled Murder-Suicide
NATICK – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Natick Police Chief James Hicks announced today that the deaths of Chester and Shirley Ju on November 2, 2013 have been ruled a murder-suicide.
On Saturday, November 2, 2013, Natick Police responded to a report of a deceased man located at 42 Winter St. While investigating, a deceased female was discovered inside the home. The decedents were identified as Chester Ju, 64, and Shirley Ju, 64, a husband and wife who lived at this residence.
Based on the investigation, authorities allege that Chester Ju killed his wife and then took his own life. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Shirley Ju’sdeath was a homicide caused by multiple sharp force injuries. Chester Ju’s death was ruled suicide by hanging.
“Inside this large suburban home in a quiet, residential neighborhood, Shirley Ju was allegedly murdered by her husband. This incident illustrates the growing trend of domestic violence homicides in relationships where the victim and perpetrator are over the age of 60,” District Attorney Ryan said. “This case is a tragic reminder that domestic violence is an epidemic that knows no age, gender, socio-economic, or educational bounds. I remain committed to prevention and intervention through community partnerships and close collaboration of domestic violence advocates, elder abuse advocates, hospitals and other stakeholders to better identify and respond to abuse in older relationships."
According to Emerge in Cambridge, the first abuser education program in the United States, between 2007 and 2011 there were 17 domestic violence homicides where the victim or the perpetrator was over age 60, accounting for 15 percent of all domestic violence related homicides.
The case was investigated by Natick Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of District Attorney Ryan, is committed to providing innovative domestic violence prevention programs and comprehensive training efforts, including preventing elder abuse. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office’s LEAPS (Leaders in Elder Abuse Prevention) Initiative is an effort to identify and prevent elder abuse through collaboration among law enforcement, service and health care providers for seniors. Through this program, the MDAO provides training to providers and others on identifying early signs of abuse and how to provide proactive services.
Last fall, District Attorney Ryan hosted a training that focused on how to engage and work with victims of domestic violence. Two panel presentations included representatives from several local advocacy organizations. Presenters also trained participants on how to identify and respond to victims’ needs, including how to address cultural barriers in our local communities that may make it difficult to report abuse.
District Attorney Ryan and Suffolk District Attorney Dan Conley also sponsored a training for 135 assistant district attorneys and victim witness advocates in how to assess abusive behavior in domestic partner relationships and how to identify and respond to the needs of victims.
District Attorney Ryan regularly leads programs throughout the county in how to identify signs of domestic violence and to connect people with resources in their communities. One initiative is the Cut It Out program that provides training for salon professionals and student stylists on how to spot signs of domestic violence and safely refer clients to local services and resources. District Attorney Ryan recently launched the third phase of this effort by providing training to staff at private salons after forming partnerships with local vocational high schools and Empire Beauty School.
District Attorney Ryan has created initiatives to better serve victims and enhance the investigation and prosecution of domestic violence cases. Ryan’s office offers comprehensive trainings for local police departments and sponsors community-based Domestic Violence Roundtables throughout the county. The office continues to expand its Domestic Violence Pro Bono Program and currently partners with 11 private law firms that provide free legal services for victims of domestic violence seeking civil restraining orders.
Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 cities and towns and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office prosecutes more than 40,000 cases each year in nineteen superior, district and juvenile courts and has offices throughout the county, including in Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.