The Massachusetts Parole Board has denied parole for a Massachusetts man who was convicted of first-degree murder for killing his mother, father, and sister in 1978 when he was 15 years old.
The board voted to deny parole for Alfred Brown, following a review hearing. Brown will return for another review in two years. One board member favored a five-year setback, while two members voting to grant parole.
Brown, now 64, has been incarcerated for 48 years. He was convicted in 1979 in Essex Superior Court and received three concurrent life sentences. Parole was previously denied after hearings in 2018 and 2023.
According to the board’s statement of the case, on January 27, 1978, after just finishing the book “Glory Boys” where the hero is executed by being shot in the head, Brown shot his mother in the head with a .22 caliber rifle, killing her. He then shot his 20-year-old sister multiple times as she tried to escape. When his father arrived at their Topsfield home, Brown shot him six times, including three times in the head. Brown later told police he had to shoot his father because “he drove in when I was leaving.”
The majority of the board cited the nature and circumstances of the triple murder as its primary concern. While noting that Brown has remained disciplinary-report free for 26 years and has participated in restorative justice programs, the board concluded he has not yet demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society. Members said they want him to continue working toward a greater understanding of the trauma and risks associated with his past violence.
The board considered a forensic evaluation, as well as testimony in support of parole from a clinician and attorneys, and testimony in opposition from an Essex County prosecutor.
