Community Corner

After Harding Ave. Murders, Neighborhood 'Will Never Be The Same'

It will take the Waltham neighborhood some time to heal, officials said.

In the wake of a triple homicide at 12 Harding Ave. on Monday, Waltham officials said the news of such a crime occurring in the city was jarring, and had left some people feeling uneasy.

As details of the crime emerged this week, some comfort could be taken knowing the deaths had not been a random act.

“I’m very happy the District Attorney said it did not appear to be random,” said on Wednesday. “Naturally, it’s disturbing. But the DA is working with the police and they have it under control as far as I can see.”

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The Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office — Brandon Mess, 25, of Harding Avenue; and Eric Weissman, 31, and Raphael Teken, 37.

District Attorney Gerry Leone has said two people were in the apartment prior to the bodies being discovered, but never commented on whether the police were looking for them.

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McCarthy said that since the crime was discovered, she has been in touch daily with police and the ward councilor.

Ward 5 Councilor Gary Marchese said Thursday that feelings did change in the neighborhood once District Attorney Gerry Leone and Police Chief Thomas Lacroix

“That was key information for the neighborhood,” Marchese said. “Once that information was revealed, there was a little more feeling calm in the neighborhood.”

Marchese, however, said that people were still voicing their uneasiness — and shock — at what occurred Monday.

“When homicides happen in small, tightly-knit neighborhoods, people say, ‘not in my neighborhood.’” Marchese said. “What’s sure is the neighborhood will never be the same. It’ll take some time to heal.”

Marchese said he hopes the incident can serve as a lesson for Waltham’s youth — that drugs can not only lead to problems with addiction, but also violence. Marchese and

Reached on Tuesday, School Committee member Lisa Limonciello said from a school perspective, life was moving forward as normal as the victims were adults and did not impact the schools. The news was a shock, though, she said. 

“It’s not typical Waltham behavior,” she said.

And while neighbors’ lives will continue, Marchese said driving past the street on Thursday, he recalled positive memories of spending time with friends there growing up.

“I used to play in that neighborhood as a kid,” Marchese said. “That house was always a beautiful, single-family home full of love and friendship. It’s just tragic.”


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