What to know about Jared Ravizza, the Martha’s Vineyard man charged in multiple stabbings - The Boston Globe (2024)

On a company website and in interviews, Ravizza presented himself as having a jet-setting lifestyle and success in marketing, professional skiing, and the arts. But several of his claims could not be verified.

A website for the firm Ravizza Jones says the company is “a leading global digital marketing & social media management agency” with locations in New York, Connecticut, Florida, California, and Europe, and Ravizza is its founder and chief executive.

Online databases did not show office listings for the company anywhere in the United States. A filing with the state Corporations Division shows that Ravizza Jones Productions LLC was incorporated in West Tisbury on Jan. 16 of this year, with Jared Ravizza Jones listed as manager. A decree issued last June in Dukes Probate and Family Court shows that Ravizza legally changed his name to Jared Christian Ravizza Jones last June to honor his maternal grandmother, Priscilla Jones.

A December 2021 profile in the Martha’s Vineyard Times reported that Ravizza was a professional skier and was working through the Ravizza Global Initiative to help people with disabilities and serious illnesses to experience skiing, surfing, and other outdoor activities.

A search of the Massachusetts public charities database showed no nonprofits with Ravizza in the name. A search of the national charity database GuideStar found only a Ravizza Family Foundation, based in Northern California.

An October 2021 profile from Thrive Global calls Ravizza “a professional big mountain skier” who is working “to help save the oceans, preserve the mountains, and protect the environment.”

There is no listing for Ravizza with US Ski & Snowboard, the major sanctioning body for professional skiers in the United States, or with the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the governing body for Alpine ski racing, cross-country ski racing, and other international skiing and snowboarding competitions.

Ravizza’s parents, Jason and Kimberly Ravizza, of Agawam, have not responded to requests for comment.

Jason Ravizza is a licensed mental health counselor at CrossPoint Clinical Services Inc. in West Springfield, and as of 2020 he was a counselor at White Elementary School in Springfield, according to CrossPoint’s website and a YouTube video posted by Focus Springfield Community TV. Kimberly Ravizza is the director of nursing and health services at Veritas Preparatory Charter School in Springfield, according to the school’s website.

Ravizza has had ongoing mental health issues, according to court testimony

In court Tuesday, a psychologist, Kimberly Bistis, testified that Ravizza has struggled with his mental health for about two years.

Those issues appear to have culminated in what appeared to be a serious thought disorder with signs and symptoms of an “active psychotic illness,” and delusions, according to Bistis.

Ravizza believes his family is involved with the Mafia, she said, and thinks “he is being controlled by multiple sources outside of him, which have made him at times angry and upset,” Bistis testified.

During Ravizza’s meeting with Bistis, he could answer some basic questions about the nature of the charges against him, she said. But he would also burst into tears suddenly, was distractible, and had difficulty staying on topic, she said.

In January, a woman who taught a hot yoga class in West Tisbury told police that Ravizza had been “acting suspicious” in the class, which he joined last year, according to a police report. The report says that the woman believed Rivazza to be “an influencer.”

“He morphs into whatever topic on conversation is at hand,” the report said. “Ex. A professional Skier then a professional DJ, depending on convo.” The report said, “Mr. Ravizza is not a threat to himself,” and noted that an officer had performed a well-being check on Ravizza on Christmas Day 2023.

Ravizza allegedly stabbed two McDonald’s workers in Plymouth

Ravizza was arraigned Tuesday in Plymouth District Court on charges of assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery, and indecent exposure in connection with the stabbings at a McDonald’s in a rest area off Route 3 in Plymouth around 7 p.m. Saturday. He was ordered held without bail and committed to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

According to police reports filed in court, Ravizza entered the restaurant’s drive-through lane in a black 2018 Porsche Macan SUV and briefly got out to urinate. A witness said she shrugged at him, as if to say, “What do you think you are doing?” police said. Ravizza told the woman, “I got to pee,” according to the report.

He then got back into his car, pulled forward, got back out to continue urinating, and gave the woman “the middle finger,” police said. Ravizza had a “big expression” on his face with his eyes wide open, the witness told police. She said the look reminded her of Jack Nicholson’s character in the film “The Shining,” the report said.

When he reached the window, Ravizza allegedly got into an argument about his order — two cheeseburgers, small fries, and a McFlurry — with a 28-year-old man working the window, the report said. Ravizza demanded the employee check to make sure the order was correct, tried to grab the bag, and stabbed the worker when he tried to pull it away, the employee told police.

The worker was stabbed in the forearm with a knife that was about 8 inches long and appeared old, the report said. The employee fell and then ran to the manager’s office, where he bandaged his arm, the report said. The worker later told police he heard someone yell, “Stop!” and “Don’t do this!”

A woman working in the restaurant heard the commotion, then saw Ravizza lunge at her coworker and observed the employee bleeding after the attack, she told police.

Ravizza drove away, then came back, parked at the rest area, and entered the McDonald’s with a large knife in his hand, she said. The worker “yelled at Jared Ravizza to stop and screamed for help,” the report said. Ravizza then stabbed another woman working at the McDonald’s — a 21-year-old working her first shift, the report said.

The woman suffered a stab wound about 2 inches deep and wounds on her inner left bicep and her left underarm, according to prosecutors. Both victims were taken to local hospitals. On Monday, two managers at the restaurant said the injured employees had been discharged and were in stable condition.

The employee who saw the attacks on her coworkers chased Ravizza out to the car, where he turned around, smiled, and gave her the “OK” hand gesture before driving away, the report said. A witness reported the car’s plates to State Police, and troopers tried to pull the car over, but Ravizza wouldn’t stop, authorities said.

Ravizza is suspected of stabbing four girls in Braintree

At Tuesday’s arraignment, prosecutors said Ravizza is also accused in the stabbing of four girls at the AMC Braintree 10 theater at about 6 p.m. Saturday, about an hour before the McDonald’s attack. Ravizza allegedly approached the group from behind during a showing of the new John Krasinski film “If” and began a sudden attack, laughing as he wounded them.

A complaint filed in court shows that Ravizza was charged with four counts or assault with intent to murder and four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in connection to that alleged attack.

On Sunday, Lisa Dembowski — the mother of three of the girls injured in the attack — said the girls were fine physically but remained terrified following their ordeal. Dembowski’s twin 9-year-olds were injured, along with her 17-year-old daughter and a friend.

Ravizza was arrested after a car crash

After fleeing the McDonald’s in Plymouth, Ravizza crashed his vehicle in Sandwich, on Cotuit Road near the intersection of Asa Meiggs Road, and was arrested by troopers and local police around 7:15 p.m. Saturday, officials said. Photos and video from the crash scene show both the front and back of the Porsche crushed by the impact as firefighters sprayed water onto the smoldering metal heap.

Ravizza was taken to South Shore Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, remained hospitalized overnight, and was released Monday, officials said.

Connecticut authorities believe Ravizza was involved in a homicide there

Connecticut State Police said Tuesday that Ravizza was being sought in connection with the death of 70-year-old Bruce Feldman, of West Hartford, Conn., who was found suffering “visible injuries” outside a home at 15 Maritone Lane in Deep River, Conn., after police responded to a report of a disturbance there Saturday. Feldman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The body was found after a neighbor told State Police someone had thrown a shovel through the window of their front door and identified a potential suspect staying at the Maritone Lane home, where they found Feldman’s body. Authorities then began searching for Ravizza, who had been living in the home with Feldman.

Connecticut State Police said criminal charges against Ravizza are pending in that state, and Feldman’s death remains under investigation.

A West Tisbury police report shows that Feldman requested the Christmas Day 2023 welfare check on Ravizza, expressing concern that Ravizza was taking psychedelic drugs.

An officer visited the Ravizza home and spoke to Jared Ravizza and his father, who said his son was fine and that the family had previous issues with Feldman staying at their home uninvited when they were away, according to the report.

Jared Ravizza appeared to be “alert, well spoken, in good health and good spirits and in my opinion did not appear to be under the influence of any psychedelics or other substances,” the officer wrote.

Ravizza was previously charged with attacking his father

Saturday’s stabbings came about six weeks after Ravizza allegedly attacked his father in their West Tisbury home, according to court filings. Ravizza was charged with assault and battery on a family or household member, and the case was directed to pretrial diversion.

Jason Ravizza said his son had suffered a “mental break” and had attacked him, according to a police report on file at Edgartown District Court.

West Tisbury police took Ravizza to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for a mental health evaluation, but Ravizza “did not meet their standards to be held″ the police report said. A spokesperson for the hospital declined to answer questions about Ravizza’s evaluation, citing patient privacy laws.

Matt Pepin and John Hilliard of the Globe staff contributed to this report, and information from previous Globe coverage was used.

Jeremy C. Fox can be reached at jeremy.fox@globe.com. Follow him @jeremycfox.