After 49 years, Mass. man expresses remorse for killing 87-year-old
A Massachusetts man was given parole after expressing remorse for killing an 87-year-old man about 50 years ago.
When Ronald O'Brien was 20, he shot and killed 87-year-old John Telfair — a neighbor he knew for most of his life.
O'Brien had gone to Telfair's home to ask him for money, but the 87-year-old Woburn man refused, according to the Massachusetts Parole Board. When O'Brien persisted, Telfair pulled out a gun.
In response, O'Brien took the gun from Telfair, knocked him to the ground, took his wallet and shot him in the head. The 20-year-old then searched Telfair's home and took other items, including checks and pills.
Despite telling multiple people he shot Telfair, O'Brien denied shooting him during the trial. Instead, O'Brien accused his girlfriend of shooting Telfair while O'Brien was in the kitchen. O'Brien also testified that he told others that he shot Telfair to protect his girlfriend.
He was convicted of first-degree murder on Nov. 22, 1976, in Middlesex Superior Court and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
However, in January 2024, the Supreme Judicial Court's decision in Commonwealth v. Mattis determined that sentencing people ages 18 through 20 at the time of the offense to life without the possibility of parole was unconstitutional.
This allowed O'Brien to be allowed to have a parole board hearing. O'Brien first hearing was on April 22.
The parole board noted that O'Brien was not engaged in rehabilitative programming, but he has remained employed, sober and disciplinary report free for 24 years.
He also has various medical needs.
"Given Mr. O'Brien's health issues, his addressing of criminogenic factors, including his sobriety, and his presentation of remorse at his parole hearing, the Board finds Mr. O'Brien's release is compatible with the welfare of society," the parole board wrote on Sept. 23.
Before being released he will spent nine months in a lower security center.
Once released, he will have electronic monitoring for six months, be supervised for drugs and alcohol, have no contact with victim's family and must attend AA at least 3 times per week.
More on the Massachusetts Parole Board
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