Man who raped, beat teen girl during night out in 1977 granted parole
A 78-year-old man convicted of raping and severely beating an 18-year-old woman more than four decades ago was granted parole by the state's parole board last week in a split decision — his eighth time appearing before the board.
Gary Moody was 31 on Oct. 14, 1977, when he met the 18-year-old "cognitively-delayed" woman at a lounge in downtown Boston. Moody, along with a group of others, played pool and drank there before heading to Franklin Park.
On the way to Franklin Park, Moody told the woman he had won a bet while playing pool and was entitled to have sex with her. He and another individual beat the woman before arriving to the park, where the woman was seen crying with her pants pulled down as Moody peed on her.
The group headed from Franklin Park to Columbia Point. In the car, Moody repeatedly beat the woman and demanded money from her. He stripped off her clothes, forced her to perform oral sex on him and raped her.
Moody raped the woman again at Columbia Point, and two other individuals sexually assaulted her. The group continued driving, and Moody again beat and sexually assaulted the woman, demanding her money.
Eventually, the group ended up near Mt. Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, where Moody said, "I have to get rid of her." He and another individual dragged the woman into the cemetery and behind the car, where he beat her and slit her throat with her pocketknife.
Moody walked away but turned around, kicking the woman several times before driving off and leaving her at the cemetery.
The woman was able to stumble to a nearby house and was taken to a hospital, where she remained for close to six weeks. She sustained two black eyes, a broken nose, a throat laceration that pierced her esophagus and windpipe, and multiple bruises and lacerations on her face and head.
Moody was convicted of rape, robbery, assault to murder, and assault to battery with a dangerous weapon less than a year later, following a trial in Norfolk Superior Court.
In its decision, the board notes the now 78-year-old Moody has been sober for 47 years and has not had any disciplinary reports while in custody since 1995. Moody completed a sex offender treatment program in 2014.
During the hearing on March 4, Moody was forthcoming before the board, it noted in its decision. He has had significant health issues since his prior hearing in 2019.
Both a social worker and a friend of Moody's testified in support of parole. A Norfolk County prosecutor testified in opposition.
Moody was released to the Brooke House at Community Resources for Justice, a residential reentry program. As conditions of his parole, he must undergo mental health counseling for adjustment, attend alcoholics anonymous three times a week and must register as a sex offender.
More on the Massachusetts Parole Board
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