Watch CBS News

Death Of Lynn Teacher Ruled A Homicide

LYNN (CBS) -- Neighbors on Grand View Avenue in Revere say they're anxious for answers after a 30-year-old woman's body was recovered from her home over the weekend. The District Attorney's office is calling her death a homicide.

Revere Police said Vanessa MacCormack, a second-grade teacher in Lynn, was found unresponsive around 3:30 p.m. Saturday. They said there were signs of trauma to her body, but did not say how she died.

Vanessa MacCormack
Vanessa MacCormack. (WBZ-TV)

"Usually we don't see this kind of thing going on in the neighborhood, but you don't know," said neighbor Tony Gnerre.

He added that the family was quiet and kept to themselves.

"There were no arguments, no partying or no anything. It wasn't like there was questionable activities going on at the house, this is totally out of the blue," said Gnerre.

Over the weekend, her husband, Andrew, was seen leaving the home with a baby chair and a few other belongings.

According to MacCormack's sister, she was the mother of a 13-month-old baby.

Andrew MacCormack
Andrew MacCormack. (WBZ-TV)

One neighbor told WBZ-TV that the baby appeared to be safe in a car while police investigated.

Bill Brown, a neighbor, does not believe this is a random attack.

"They either sent a statement to her or to her husband or both or somebody they are involved with," said Brown. "I don't think it was random, I think it was meant for them."

revere-death-scene
Grand View Avenue house. (Photo credit: Boston Board Up)

Family members are heartbroken, telling WBZ-TV that MacCormack was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and teacher.

The Lynn Public Schools community is also mourning the loss of MacCormack and has made grief counselors available at the Connery Elementary School Monday for staff and students.

"Our school community is heartbroken," wrote Dr. Mary Dill, Principal of Connery Elementary School, where MacCormack taught. "Vanessa was loved by students, parents and colleagues. She was involved in every aspect of the school and a great friend to everyone on the staff. She will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family."

The school district said MacCormack taught in the district for seven years and taught at Connery for five of those years.

"She was a talented, dedicated, and passionate educator and a loyal, kind and compassionate friend and colleague," the school said in a statement. "We send our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and colleagues."

Parents dropping kids off at school were shocked and saddened when they heard what happened Monday morning.

Lisa Velasquez's second-grade son attends Connery but was not in MacCormack's class.

"She was a good teacher she really loved her students, she cared for them. She was really into the school stuff and the school so she really involved with the school," Velasquez said of MacCormack. "It's sad, we really need to get along. This world is crazy."

Investigators have asked the public for help in determining what happened to Vanessa.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.