An elderly couple who had just celebrated their 50th anniversary and the wife's mother were brutally murdered in their home on Sunday
The neighbourhood of Newton, Massachusetts, US, is on high alert after a horrified neighbour called police after discovering three people dead inside the home on Sunday morning at around 10.14am.
The unidentified Italian couple and the woman's mother, who was in her late 90s, were found by a neighbour in their home in Nonantum, an Italian-American neighborhood west of Boston.
Ofificals said at a news conference on Sunday night the trio were believed to have died of stab wounds and blunt-force trauma. There were also signs the house had been broken into.
The discovery comes just hours before after an attempted break-in at a home half a mile in Broadway.
According to police, it is not known if the incidents are related but both are being investigated - and residents have been urged to lock their doors and check their surveillance cameras in case anything had been captured on
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan admitted there is evidence of forced entry into the home after the victims suffered stab wounds and blunt forced trauma.
He is pleading with locals to "remain vigilant" following the deaths.
"We are asking people to remain vigilant," Mr Ryan said. "Lock your doors and windows even if you do not normally do that."
In addition, he asked residents to report anything suspicious to police and not to wait until the following morning.
"Don't wait until the morning to report that to us. Call tonight," Mr Ryan said.
Locals are also being asked to check their home security CCTV for anything untoward - with police confirming there will be an increased presence in the neighbourhood until the suspect is caught.
One neighbour, who did not want to be named, revealed the three victims were all related.
They told CBS: "You never know what's going to happen to us. I knew the whole family. They're very close."
According to neighbour Robin Dickey, the victims were connected to the local church and their absence on Sunday alarmed them.
He said: "These were churchgoing people. The only reason they were found is because they weren't in church and somebody came to see if they were OK."
A local priest tried to reassure the residents as police work out what happened or led up to the stabbings.
Newton Police Chief John Carmichael revealed extra officers and dispatchers have been brought in to help reassure the local community.
"I am very concerned with such a violent crime taking place and whereas this individual, individuals are still at large," Mr Carmichael said.
"We do really emphasise again be vigilant, pay attention to what is happening in the neighbourhoods."
