• Young man accused of killing his mother in Methuen
• The body was found wrapped in paper towels and a blanket

Grief and anger filled a Massachusetts courtroom during the arraignment of a Methuen man charged with his mother’s murder.

Anthony Nunez-Romano, 26, is accused of killing his mother, Dominga Romano, a Spanish teacher at Lawrence High School.

Police said they discovered the 55-year-old’s body on December 29 during a welfare check at their shared home on Lyndale Avenue in Methuen.

Essex County Assistant District Attorney Paige Timko stated, “The defendant said his mother was upstairs and indicated he wanted to go up before officers entered.”

Prosecutors reported that the young man told officers a bullet came through their window and struck his mother in the back, before officers went upstairs to find Dominga’s body wrapped in paper towels and a blanket.

Timko added that a close friend had requested the welfare check after communication with Dominga abruptly stopped at 8 a.m. the day before the body was found.

“Officers immediately observed signs consistent with rigor mortis and noted that the abdominal area appeared to have some bandaging applied, and she was pronounced deceased at that time,” Timko said.

The family appeared devastated in court, with one relative shouting at Nunez-Romano as he was led away.

Court documents citing interviews with loved ones indicated that Dominga seemed afraid of her son, who had a history of delinquent behavior and was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and autism.

Luz Torres, who worked with Dominga at Lawrence High School, said she visited the home on Tuesday to offer a prayer.

Nunez-Romano also faces charges of illegal firearm possession, including altering the gun’s serial number.

He is scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing on February 20.