Husband Charged In Lynn Teacher's Murder Held Without Bail

CHELSEA (CBS) -- Prosecutors released gruesome details in court Wednesday about the murder of a young mother and beloved Lynn teacher over the weekend.

Andrew MacCormack, 29, was ordered held without bail after he pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Chelsea District Court in the murder of his wife, Vanessa MacCormack, 30, in their home in Revere Saturday.

Prosecutors said Vanessa MacCormack was strangled, had her neck slashed and a trash bag over her head.

They claim Andrew MacCormack then took $100 out of an ATM, bought $100 worth of cocaine, while his baby was in the car, before returning home to clean up the murder scene before calling  911.

Police found that areas of the house had been cleaned with bleach and Vanessa's body had burns that suggested she had bleach poured on her.

The couple's marriage was falling apart because of Andrew's expensive drug problem and Vanessa had recently been talking about divorce, prosecutors said.

In the past, Andrew allegedly fueled his drug habit by taking money from their bank accounts and blaming hackers or selling jewelry while claiming it was stolen from their house.

Vanessa had also said in text messages she wanted to sell the house and divorce him. MacCormack allegedly responded, "Ur crazy, I will never sign anything."

"The texts back and forth show that very recently Vanessa was enraged at the defendant for botching their finances, for being irresponsible, according to her," said Prosecutor Ian Polumbaum.

Andrew's defense attorney John Hayes denied that he killed his wife and said police jumped to accuse him too quickly.

"His DNA and his fingerprints are going to be all over the house. So why would he be bleaching the house? I think it's a lot more likely that an assailant from outside the home bleached the house," Hayes said.

Vanessa's family grew concerned when they could not reach her on her cell phone Saturday. MacCormack had also texted Vanessa during the day, but prosecutors believe he had her phone with him.

On Sunday, Andrew could be seen breaking down in tears outside their house, where Vanessa was found dead a day earlier.

Her death rattled the Lynn school community. She taught second grade at Connery Elementary School.

Andrew was seen by WBZ-TV cameras returning to the house Sunday to pick up a baby chair and other items. He left without saying anything, but broke down and cried at the scene.

Police arrested Andrew and charged him with murder Tuesday, in what the Suffolk County DA's office said was a case of domestic violence.

Interviews, cell phone records, and surveillance video of the home were examined and contributed to Andrew's arrest.

"The facts and evidence led to one person and one person only -- and he is now under arrest," Massachusetts State Police Col. Richard McKeon said in a statement.

The District Attorney said it was a family member of Vanessa who went to her Revere home and first called 911 upon Andrew's request, then he called a few minutes later.

Andrew's next court date is scheduled for October 27.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendal Buhl reports

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• Christina Hager
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