Lawrence city councilors call for police chief to resign after teen's murder

LAWRENCE, Mass. — Two Lawrence city councilors are calling for the Lawrence police chief to step down after the investigation into the gruesome beheading death of a local teen.

Lee Manuel Viloria-Paolino, 16, went missing on November 18 and his body was recovered nearly two weeks later on the bank of the Merrimack River. A suspect, 15-year-old Mathew Borgess, has been charged with murder.

Lee’s family said they felt as though police did not do enough when they first reported him missing.

"If it was their kid would they have waited two weeks to look for him?” Lee’s mother asked.

RELATED: Family of murdered teen says Lawrence police didn't do enough

Councilors Modesto Maldonado and Brian de Pena agree with Lee's family, and allege that police did not do enough to search for him.

Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick defended the investigation, saying, in part:

We are required to look at all possible scenarios in putting together an investigation. In this instance, we now allege that the suspect deliberately misled investigators by sending them in the wrong direction.  That did not change the seriousness of our approach. Once we determined that the suspect was likely being untruthful, our investigation took a pointed turn.

>> Scroll down for Chief Fitzpatrick's full statement

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera stood behind Chief Fitzpatrick and called the city councilors "shameful" for suggesting the chief's resignation.

"A group of people who would use the tragic death of a 16 year old to advance their agendas even before the poor child is buried. I ask you to join me to reject them and their viscous [sic] actions," Mayor Rivera said in a Facebook post Wednesday.

>> Scroll down for Mayor Rivera's full Facebook post

Chief Fitzpatrick’s full statement:

Nothing we saw as police officers will erase the unimaginable pain that a Lawrence family is experiencing with the loss of their loved one. The Lawrence Police Department took this case seriously from the onset. We are required to look at all possible scenarios in putting together an investigation. In this instance, we now allege that the suspect deliberately misled investigators by sending them in the wrong direction. That did not change the seriousness of our approach. Once we determined that the suspect was likely being untruthful, our investigation took a pointed turn. While I cannot imagine it makes the news any easier to bear for the family and friends of the victim, our officers took the case seriously, used all resources to find the victim, and arrested his alleged murderer within 36 hours. That said, we are a progressive law enforcement agency that is open to critique and review. We will debrief and examine all actions taken during the investigation and compare ourselves to state and national best practices. We will do this in a transparent manner. And, if we can change anything, be it our customer service or our investigative tactics, to make us a better public safety agency and to mitigate in any small way the feelings of horror and loss felt by families, we will do so.

Mayor Rivera's full Facebook post:

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