This Day in Norwood History-March 6, 1955-Few Details Emerge In Case Against Peter Makarewicz On Eve Of Trial For Murder of Geraldine Annese

DEDHAM. March 6- Tall, slim, delicately handsome Peter Makarewicz, 15, of Norwood, goes on trial in Norfolk Superior Court Monday for the murder of pretty, 15-year-old Geraldine Annese, whose nude body was found in a garage next to her Norwood noma last Nov. 5.

Makarewicz, long-time friend and neighbor of the slain, dark-haired high school student, has been confined to a cell in Norfolk County Jail since Nov. 8, when he pleaded guilty to the murder charge.

Judge Lewis Goldberg will preside at the special court session. Atty. Lewis Goldstein will be counsel for the defense.

The body of Geraldine, vivacious teenager and one-time girlfriend of Peter, was found last Nov. 5 between two cars parked in a garage next to the Annese family home at 13 Tremont St.. Norwood.

All of her clothing except for bobby socks and loafers had been removed. She had been strangled by her silver chain necklace. Norfolk County District Attorney Myron N. Lane was quoted at the time as saying there was sex involved in the attack.

Tracing the slain girl’s movements the night before, police found that she had been out on a double date with three other teenagers who said they dropped her off at a street corner about 200 feet from her home at about 10.

Fingerprints Led to Arrest

Inside the garage, police said they found fingerprints which led them to Peter Makarewicz, oldest of three children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Makarewicz, who live in a three-story wooden house at 1201 Washington St., around the corner from the Annese home.

According to police, Peter allegedly confessed to the crime, saying that he laid in wait for the girl, called to her as she crossed a dark vacant lot near the garage, then strangled her when she came to his call.

Both the boy’s parents, Geraldine’s family, and neighbors were stunned at the youth’s arrest and alleged confession. He was known as a “quiet, normal boy” who was an active participant in affairs of St. Peter’s Church, Norwood, where he once sang in the church choir.

He did however, suffer from epileptic fits and his mother said he was “very, very self-conscious of his affliction”.

Peter and the slain girl attended Balch School, Norwood, through the elementary grades and entered Peabody Vocational School together. Until a few months before the slaying, they dated frequently. Then, according to Dist Atty. Lane, Geraldine broke off the relationship although the pair remained friendly.