Report: Mass. teen accused of killing teacher, "psychotic"

SALEM, Mass. - Court documents say a Massachusetts teenager charged with killing his math teacher appeared to be "psychotic" after he allegedly attacked a female clinician at a Department of Youth Services detention center in Boston earlier this month.

Philip Chism was "out of touch with reality" and "yelling, screaming incoherently (and) foaming at the mouth while being restrained by staff" following the recent attack, according to a petition to have the 15-year-old committed to Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital for 30 days of evaluation and treatment.

The details were released Tuesday by a Superior Court judge in response to a motion by The Salem News.

Along with the petition, the judge also unsealed a motion by prosecutors outlining concerns about security at the facility. A Department of Mental Health attorney told the court that Chism was receiving "constant one-to-one observation," according to the paper.

Chism pleaded not guilty to robbing, raping and killing 24-year-old Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer after following her into a restroom last October. He was 14 at the time.