Man convicted of 1993 murder granted parole after 31 years in prison
A man who was sentenced to life without parole for a 1993 murder has been granted parole after a court ruling made him eligible for release.
The Massachusetts Parole Board on Oct. 7 unanimously voted to grant parole to Mark Van Winkle, who has been incarcerated for 31 years. Van Winkle was 20 years old when he shot and killed 21-year-old Israel Espino during a fake drug deal set up with the intent to rob him and two other men.
On Oct. 5, 1993, Van Winkle lured Israel Espino, his 23-year-old brother Frank Espino and 19-year-old Juan Guerra to a remote wooded area under the pretense of selling them marijuana. According to the parole board's decision, Van Winkle, who was in the back seat with Israel Espino, shot him in the head, killing him. He then shot and wounded the other two men. Frank Espino escaped into the woods, while Guerra, who had been rendered unconscious, awoke and drove away to alert police.
In 1994, a Norfolk County Superior Court jury convicted Van Winkle of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He also received sentences for armed robbery, armed assault with intent to rob, and assault and battery.
Van Winkle became eligible for parole after the 2024 Supreme Judicial Court decision in Commonwealth v. Mattis . The court ruled that sentencing individuals aged 18 to 20 to life without parole is unconstitutional. As a result, Van Winkle's sentence was changed to life with the possibility of parole.
In its decision, the parole board stated that Van Winkle has demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that makes his release compatible with the welfare of society. The board noted he has completed 60 rehabilitative programs, has had no disciplinary reports in six years, and holds trusted employment positions within the Department of Correction. The board heard testimony opposing parole from the victim's family and the Norfolk County District Attorney's office.
Upon release, Van Winkle will first spend six months in a lower-security facility before moving to a long-term residential treatment program. His parole conditions include electronic monitoring, no contact with the victims' families, mental health counseling, and required attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
Generative AI was used to write this story, based on data provided by the Massachusetts Parole Board. It was reviewed and edited by an editor.
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