In November of 1992, the murder of 15-year-old Beth Brodie devastated the small town of Groveland, Massachusetts (where I spent my childhood). Her killer was a 16 -year-old boy she knew from school who'd developed a violent obsession with her. For this premeditated and gruesome murder, he was sentenced as an adult to life in prison. That’s only part of her story.
I talk to Beth's brother Sean Aylward to get a first-hand account of Beth's story, about the case, what it’s like for a family of a murdered loved one and how they fight to keep attention on Beth and not about the person who took her life.
How to support the Brodie family:
Some photos to remember Beth
Crime of the Truest Kind
Online: crimeofthetruestkind.com (and source links)
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Sources
Pat Badger Alpacas
Boston 25 News - Juror Who Put Teen Behind Bars Outraged
Uni - Mass Youth Charged In Baseball Bat Killing of Beth Brodie
Baltimore sun (Boston Globe) Beth Brodie murder
Commonwealth vs Baldwin
AP News, 2014 - Parole considerations for juveniles https://newsroom-ap-org.ezproxy.bpl.org/detail/CORRECTIONJuvenileLifeSentences/9616ee52f90f4826a8990b0fb746c99e/photo?Query=beth%20AND%20brodie&mediaType=photo,graphic,audio&sortBy=&dateRange=Anytime&totalCount=2¤tItemNo=0
Boston Globe - Sean Aylward Letter to the Editor https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2014/02/02/readers-respond-articles-parole-gay-marriage-and-more/iHJBjy6Frd17NcO8coPfDO/story.html
Salem News - Parole hearing cancelled by defendant
Newburyport News - No Parole for Groveland murder https://www.newburyportnews.com/news/local_news/brother-no-parole-for-killer-of-groveland-girl/article_20f3d19e-e9c4-5881-8093-7841d19744d7.html
Lawrence Eagle Tribune - 18 teen killers released https://www.eagletribune.com/news/merrimack_valley/18-teen-killers-released-under-sjc-ruling/article_4b90db97-83ff-50b8-a987-8b4144582732.html#:~:text=Jamie%20Fuller%20of%20Beverly%2C%20who%20murdered%20his%2014-year-old,postponed.%20Some%20teen%20killers%20have%20been%20cleared%20 New York Daily News - Family of Massachusetts cheerleader murdered in 1992 fights ruling that allows her killer parole https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/family-massachusetts-cheerleader-murdered-1992-fights-ruling-killer-parole-article-1.1564441
Brother: No parole for killer of Groveland girl, Groveland teen murdered with baseball bat in 1992
Archived
Cheerleader, 15, is beaten to death
Tom Coakley, Boston Globe, Nov 20, 1992
Policeman kills man in Groveland
John Cullen, Jeff McLaughlin, Boston Globe, Nov 1, 1973
Lowell Sun - Billy Blaisdell Murder
Boston Globe - 700 Bid Farewell to Beth Brodie