Mount Holyoke Professor Accused In Brutal Assault

Art professor accused of beating colleague with a rock, fire poker, and garden shears.

January 6, 2020

NBC News,

(WWLP/NBC News) A Mount Holyoke College professor is being held without bail after an alleged brutal attack on her colleague and friend.

48-year-old Rie is accused of assaulting the victim in the victim’s Leverett, Massachusetts home from December 23 to December 24, beating them with a rock, fire poker, and garden shears. The victim is expected to survive but has severe injuries.

According to the report filed by Massachusetts State Police, the victim stated, in an audio-recorded interview, that Hachiyanagi showed up to her house wanting to talk about her feelings and attacked her. When the victim opened the door to let Hachiyanagi in, the victim said she turned around and Hachiyanagi hit her over the head with “something hard” and then repeatedly hit her over the head.