Mass. woman found guilty of stabbing firefighter husband to death

MARSHFIELD, Mass. (TCN) -- A 49-year-old woman has been convicted of fatally stabbing her 51-year-old husband, who worked as a firefighter for over two decades.

The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office announced Aug. 2 that a jury found Christine Ricci guilty of the second-degree murder of Michael Ricci, as well as one count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 22.

According to the Marshfield Police Department, on Jan. 28, 2021, officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a home and found Michael Ricci with multiple stab wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. Emergency room personnel reportedly told officials the victim sustained a stab wound to his front left chest and another in the upper left back shoulder.

Further investigation revealed Michael Ricci and his wife, Christine Ricci, got into a verbal dispute before Christine Ricci grabbed a knife and stabbed her husband in the heart and back. A knife was recovered near the victim's body in the home.

Christine Ricci initially told police she retrieved the weapon out of fear, WBZ-TV reports. She reportedly claimed that Michael Ricci had launched toward her and she didn't realize that she had stabbed the victim until he fell.

According to his obituary, Michael Ricci worked as a firefighter in Boston for 23 years and leaves behind three children.

In a statement obtained by WBZ, the Boston Fire Department said, "This is an awful tragedy. Michael was a valued member of the Boston Fire Department for 23 years. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family."