LANCASTER CITY (WPMT)-A 16-year-old boy has been charged with homicide in the death of a sixth-grade teacher in Lancaster City, police said.
Authorities have charged Marcus A. Rutter, of Lancaster, with criminal homicide, burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit burglary and robbery.
Officers responded to the 700 block of North Franklin Street around 9:10 a.m. Monday for a report of an unresponsive woman. Nicole R. Mathewson, 32, was found dead inside her home with visible traumatic injuries, police said. Mathewson’s vehicle, a black 2005 Mazda 3 sedan with Pennsylvania plate FVN-8421 was also reported missing.
Rutter was arrested late Monday along the 600 block of East Marion Street. Investigators have since recovered her vehicle.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
Mathewson, taught at Brownstown Elementary School in the Conestoga Valley School District. The district posted a statement about Mathewson’s death on its website Monday.
“During her seven years with us, she was an excellent teacher, an exemplary employee and a respected colleague, especially in the area of mathematics,” Conestoga Valley Superintendent Gerald Huesken said in a statement. “Her loss is a terrible tragedy for our school district and our community. She will be greatly missed.”
Guidance counselors will be available to provide support to students and staff.
The investigation is ongoing and police are looking into the possible involvement of other suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-735-3300 or Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913. Tipsters may remain anonymous.