Massachusetts man convicted of fatally beating 17-year-old girl with a rock granted parole with conditions

A Massachusetts man convicted of a brutal and violent murder has been granted parole with conditions.

According to the Massachusetts Parole Board, on August 10th, 1996, Damien Lockhart, now 51, sexually assaulted and murdered 17-year-old Kimberly Jane Bolton in Framingham. Her body was discovered by the edge of a railroad dirt access road known as “the Weeds.” She suffered seven distinct blows to her head and face after being beaten with a rock, along with multiple cuts and bruises on her hands (consistent with defensive wounds). There were also indications of sexual assault. Blood consistent with the victim’s blood was found on Lockhart’s shorts. Footprints at the crime scene matched the tread of sneakers that Lockhart wore on the night of the murder. Additionally, eyewitnesses reported seeing Lockhart with the victim near the time and place of the murder. When Lockhart went to the Framingham Police Department for questioning, he was arrested for the murder. 

On September 2nd, 1997, Lockhart pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. On that same date, he pleaded guilty to attempted rape and was sentenced to a concurrent term of 9 to 12 years in prison. Both sentences were ordered to run consecutively to an unrelated armed robbery sentence he was serving at the time of this conviction. Parole was denied after an initial hearing in 2013, and after review hearings in 2018, 2023 and 2025. At his most recent hearing that just recently took place, Lockhart was granted parole

In their decision in granting parole, the Board noted that Lockhart has followed the Board’s recommendations – since the last hearing he has completed Enhancing Empathy. The Board considered Dr. DiCataldo’s evaluation in rendering the decision. The Board also stated that Lockhart uses a wheelchair due to spinal and hip issues and that he has family and friend support and a re-entry plan to meet his needs.

The Board considered testimony in support of parole from two of Lockhart’s family members. The Board also considered testimony in opposition to parole from three members of the victim’s family and Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Alicia Walsh, 

Special conditions for Lockhart’s parole includes: Waive work for 2 weeks or disability; Must be home between 10 PM & 6 AM at PO’s discretion; Electronic monitoring; 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; no contact with victim of unarmed robbery; Must have mental health counseling for adjustment; LTRP or CRJ; Mandatory: DA Clearance; Sex A Conditions – no polygraph, no journal.