Massachusetts families of murdered loved ones are now faced with the prospect of their killers being released. Explore how landmark rulings , Miller vs. Alabama and Diatchenko vs The Commonwealth, have reshaped juvenile sentencing and removed every promise made to families that their juvenile killer would be behind bars for life. The families of Amy Carnevale, Shaun Ouillette, Janet Downing, and Beth Brodie find it unfathomable that they will now have to face these murderers who are entitled to regular parole hearings. They are fighting every step of the way.
Additional cases of juvenile offenders in this episode:
Thomas Wharf, 1981 Boston, Mass - his killer, Diatchenko was granted parole but is now back in prison
Cole Cannon, 2002 Five Points, Alabama (Miller v Alabama) - teen killer resentenced to LWOP
Laurie Troup, 1999 Blytheville, Arkansas (Jackson v Hobbs) all three boys arrested in her case were granted release, the shooter is back in prison Lewis Jennings, 1986 Middleboro, Mass - one of Lewis's killers was granted parole
Bonnie Sue Mitchell, 1981 Lynn, Mass - Bonnie's killer has gotten parole
Write to the parole board:
Massachusetts Parole Board
12 Mercer Rd
Natick, Mass 01760
Unsolved Somerville cases I talked about:
Photos
Beth Brodie and news about her case, Shaun Ouillette, Janet Downing, Amy Carnevale, Lewis Jennings, Bonnie Sue Mitchel L-- murder victims of juvenile killers; Gregory Diatchenko, juvenile killer of Thomas Wharf, who got paroled and had it revoked
Sources
UpdatingÂ
Dead of Winter: The Empty Chair - Jeanne Quinn, Shaun Ouillette - Discovery ID
Justice for Beth Brodie Speaking events and family member testimony
2024 Parole Hearing notes
Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children (PRHC)
Boston Magazine - Would You Let This Man Go Free? Greg Diatchenko
Boston Magazine - The Reilly Factor
WCVB Channel 5 - Massachusetts SJC rules life without parole unconstitutional for offenders under 21https://www.wcvb.com/article/massachusetts-sjc-life-without-parole-unconstitutional-under-age-21/46351900
Boston magazine, 2014 - The Downing Family’s Fight to Keep a Convicted Murderer Behind Bars
WBUR - 'I Think I Deserve That Second Chance': Former Juvenile Lifers, Now Free, Try To Reenter Society https://www.wbur.org/morningedition/2016/09/07/juvenile-lifers-out
Bill S. 2008 An Act relative to juvenile life with parolehttps://malegislature.gov/Bills/188/S2008
Evan Miller, Juvenile Lifer from Miller v. Alabama, Re-Sentenced To LWOPh
EJI won a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court striking down mandatory death-in-prison sentences for children https://eji.org/cases/miller-v-alabama/
AL.com - Alabama man convicted of brutal murder when he was 14 to learn Tuesday if he gets chance at parole
Age Matrix - https://juvenilecompact.org/age-matrix
Moulton Advertiser - Life without parole for Evan Miller
Death Penalty Laws By State https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-procedure/death-penalty-laws-by-state.html
Evan Miller juvenile murderer
AL.com - Evan Miller, the Alabama inmate whose case became precedent for juvenile sentencing, set for hearing
Kuntrell Jackson - Jackson v Hobbs
National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Murderers NOVJM https://teenkillers.org/juvenile-lifers/offenders-cases-state/arkansas-offenders/kuntrell-jackson/
Arkansas Online - https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2013/apr/05/court-examines-teen-sentencing-case-argum-20130405/