Bristol County man who played role in targeted death of 25-year-old granted parole with conditions

A Massachusetts man who played a role in a robbery and murder has been granted parole with conditions.

According to the Parole Board, on December 5, 2012, in Norfolk Superior Court, Joshua Berrios of Taunton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Osahon Ighodaro. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Berrios also pleaded guilty to two counts of unarmed robbery, one count unarmed burglary, and one count of kidnapping, for which he received concurrent sentences. 

On the morning of July 11, 2008, Holbrook police officers located 25-year-old Osahon Ighodaro deceased in his apartment. He had been hog tied and was found lying face down on the floor. According to WCVB, Ighodaro was a Nigerian immigrant who worked at a Boston parking lot and was targeted after stating at a nightclub he had electronics at home. He was tied up and beaten to death.

Another occupant of the apartment reported that on the previous evening, she heard someone knock on the door, followed by men entering the apartment screaming. They tied her up, and she eventually passed out. When she woke up the following morning, she untied herself, found Ighodaro’s body, and ran out of the apartment to seek help. Investigators processed the scene for fingerprints and other forensic evidence and determined that several belongings and money had been stolen from the apartment.

On May 6, 2009, one of Berrios’s co-defendants was arrested in Chelsea for an unrelated offense. The fingerprints he provided resulting from that arrest matched a latent print that had been lifted from the wall near Ighodaro’s body. The other occupant of the apartment later identified that same co-defendant from a photo array as one of the men that tied her up on the night of the murder. Upon arrest, multiple co-defendants identified Berrios as being involved in the murder. Berrios turned himself in to the police. The police later identified a palm print lifted from the murder scene as belonging to Berrios.

This was Berrios’ initial hearing before the Board. Berrios was 19 years old at the time of the offense and has now been incarcerated since 2009. Some of the reasoning the Board gave to grant parole is that Berrios has engaged in, and completed, over 30 programs. He has earned his bachelor’s degree from Boston University, graduating magna cum laude. Berrios acknowledged the destructive behavior and choices he made earlier in his life and expressed remorse for his actions. Berrios noted he has gained coping mechanisms and insights into his behavior, which will assist in his transition to the community. He has community support and has possible job opportunities. The Board found that Berrios has matured and engaged in the necessary rehabilitative progress to make his release compatible with the welfare of society. The Board notes multiple letters of support, a low LSCMI score, and a practical re-entry plan. Norfolk County ADA Michael McGee and the victims’ family and friends spoke in opposition. 

Parole special conditions include: Community based Residential Reentry Program after 90 days in lower security or until a bed is available; Approve home plan before release; Waive work for 2 weeks; Curfew must be at home between 10PM & 6AM at Parole Officer’s discretion; Electronic monitoring at Parole Officer’s discretion; Supervise for drugs, testing in accordance with agency policy; Supervise for liquor abstinence, testing in accordance with agency policy; Report to assigned MA Parole Office on day of release; No contact with victim(s)’ family; Must have mental health evaluation and must comply with recommended treatment plan.