Family, friends of Colleen Ritzer describe pain, teacher's legacy

SALEM, Mass. — The family and friends of a Danvers High School teacher gathered to give victim impact statements in court Friday.

Colleen Ritzer was killed by her student, Philip Chism, when he was just 14. On Friday, a judge is expected to decide his prison sentence.

Prosecutors have asked that the teen serve no less than 50 years, but the defense is asking for much less.

Philip Chism's mother, Diana, released a statement Friday morning prior to sentencing:

VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENTS

Susan Craig, Colleen's aunt, was the first to speak. Craig said that not a day goes by that she doesn't miss her niece.

"Where there was laughter, her cousins are plagued with silence," Craig said, "Colleen always knew what to say."

Craig described the close relationship between Colleen and her cousin, Jackie, who she said hasn't been the same since Colleen's death. Craig said Jackie dreads turning 25 this year because it will mean she has outlived Colleen.

Gina McDaniel, Colleen's cousin, said that Colleen was always a happy little girl and grew into a happy person. "She made our lives happier, we loved spending time with her...it makes me proud to have known such a wonderful person," McDaniel said.

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Jennifer Berger, who met Colleen in kindergarten, said that she had been friends with Colleen for 19 years. Berger said Colleen genuinely cared about the people in her life and was always there to support others. "Colleen was a cheerleader when you needed a boost," Berger said.

Sarah Giaquinta, a fellow math teacher, said that she was lost after Colleen's death. Gianquinta said she couldn't walk by Colleen's classroom. "I was robbed of a friendship I cherished," she told the court.

Laura Fogarty, Colleen's pre-school teacher, said that Colleen had an incredible love of life and a compassionate heart. "She was the first to come over if another child was crying...she possessed a joy that was contagious," Fogarty said.

COLLEEN'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY

Laura Ritzer, Colleen's sister, said Colleen lived her life with a happy and positive attitude. "She could light up a room," Laura Ritzer told the court. "She gave me hope when I didn't believe in myself. She gave me faith things would work out."

Tom Ritzer, Colleen's father, said his daughter was wise beyond her years. "She always wanted to be a teacher. She said it was about helping people." Tom Ritzer went on to say that "Colleen loved life, always smiled. She would get excited over small things."

"I hate Colleen's killer. He is evil. He must be punished," Tom Ritzer said. "Colleen will never get a second chance, neither should her killer...he must never be able to hurt someone else."

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Peggie Ritzer, Colleen's mother, said that Philip Chism's name did not deserve to be spoken.  Peggie Ritzer talked about the joy of raising Colleen, and how her daughter was "always happy and looked for the good in every day." Peggie Ritzer read a note from a former student, who described Colleen as a ray of sunshine.

"I used to see the glass half full...now I isolate myself from the people I love," Peggie Ritzer said. "The idea of being happy is very difficult."

Peggie Ritzer urged the judge to give Chism consecutive sentences.

"He is pure evil, and evil can never be rehabilitated. Colleen and our family will never get a second chance, and neither should he."

"Today, the good must prevail over the evil. You have to remember that Colleen matters," Peggie Ritzer said.

FOX25's Bob Ward live tweeting from the courtroom:

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