Mass. man who strangled friend’s mother encouraged to ask for early review hearing
A Massachusetts man who strangled his friend's mother in 1981 was denied parole but encouraged to make changes and ask for an early review hearing.
On Oct. 18, 1981, 20-year-old Bruce Chambers, along with 17-year-old Edward Palmariello, were painting inside Palmariello's East Boston house where he lived with his 53-year-old mother, Marion Palmariello.
The 17-year-old and his mother had a "great deal of hostility," according to the Massachusetts Parole Board. And Chambers had previously made comments about killing his friend's mother.
The mother also abused Edward Palmariello's sisters and brother, according to an Boston Globe article by Nancy Gertner, retired federal judge in 2011 and professor at Harvard Law School. But as the siblings got older, they left the house and "escaped."
Edward Palmariello was left with his mother.
"His mother abused him physically, but when he grew stronger than she was, her abuse became psychological," Gertner wrote .
After a fight over the paint can, Chambers grabbed an extension cord and strangled Marion Palmariello.
After determining that she was dead, the 17-year-old suggested that they call police.
"You're just as much at fault as I am," Chambers responded.
The two removed the woman's jewelry to make it appear that she had been robbed, and they put her body in a cardboard box. They stole a car, placed the box in the car, and drove to New Hampshire.
They eventually stopped, removed the woman's body, carried it over a fence, dragged it into the woods and left.
On Nov. 4, 1981, a group of hunters discovered Marion Palmariello's body in a wooded area about 150 feet from Route 93 in southern New Hampshire.
Edward Palmariello and Chambers were arrested soon after.
Edward Palmariello was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was allowed to ask for parole due to a 2013 Supreme Judicial Court decision that stated mandating life without the possibility of parole are invalid as applied to juveniles convicted of first-degree murder.
The parole board granted him his freedom on July 19, 2021.
Chambers, however, is still fighting for his freedom as he's remained incarcerated for almost 44 years.
April 15 was his first parole board hearing, which was granted due to a 2024 Supreme Judicial Court decision where the court held that sentencing individuals who were ages 18 through 20 at the time of the offense to life without the possibility of parole unconstitutional.
He has has remained disciplinary report free since 2021. But he has had minimal participation in programming. In the board's Sept. 11 decision , it encouraged Chambers to participate in group programming, such as Jericho Circle, to build on his interpersonal skills and assist in expected challenges with returning to the community.
If he does this, the board also encouraged him to request an early review hearing. Otherwise, he'll have another chance at a parole board hearing in two years.
More on the Massachusetts Parole Board
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