MARSHFIELD, Mass. — 46 year old Christine Ricci is accused of murdering her husband Michael, a veteran Boston firefighter, in their Marshfield home Thursday.
But Christine Ricci collapsed in an apparent panic attack at her Plymouth District Court arraignment.
The incident cleared the entire courtroom.
In Plymouth District Court for arraignment of Christine Ricci on charge of murder of her husband, Michael, a Boston Fire Fighter. Courtroom cleared as Ricci appeared to suffer med emergency and collapsed. @boston25
— Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) January 29, 2021
Plymouth County DA Timothy Cruz’s office said in a statement that Marshfield Police were called to the Ricci family home on Moraine Street at 4:46pm Thursday.
First responders found Michael Ricci suffering from stab wounds. He was transported to South Shore Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
On Friday at her arraignment, Christine Ricci at first appeared unsteady on her feet as she was led into the Arraignment Dock.
Soon, Ricci was visibly shaking and it appeared she was having trouble breathing.
Within moments, at about time a prosecutor began detailing the murder charge against Ricci, she collapsed to the floor and the courtroom was cleared.
Later, a judge ordered Christine Ricci held without bail, her murder arraignment now postponed until Monday morning.
The Boston Fire Department paid tribute to Michael Ricci with a photograph and this statement:
This is an awful tragedy. Michael was a valued member of the Boston Fire Department for 23 years. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.
— Boston Fire Department
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