“Now it’s time to die.” Bristol County man who pleaded guilty to breaking into home, beating, raping neighbor, granted parole with conditions

A Bristol County man who beat and raped his neighbor has been granted parole with conditions.

According to the Parole Board, at 2:30 a.m., on August 2, 1994, 18-year-old Joshua Kinzle broke into the North Attleboro home of his neighbor. Armed with a golf club, he proceeded upstairs, where he beat the 44-year-old victim, who was home alone and asleep in her bed. Kinzle then raped her (multiple times), sodomized her, and forced her to perform fellatio. He told her, “Now it’s time to die.” At that point, the victim punched out the screens of her bedroom window. She hung out the window and screamed, causing neighbors to call the police and Kinzle to leave. When police officers arrived, they observed a great deal of blood in the victim’s bedroom, including blood on a broken golf club. The victim was taken to the hospital, where she eventually underwent reconstructive surgery on her face. 

In the next few days, North Attleboro police officers and state police officers worked cooperatively to question as many people as possible in the neighborhood. Kinzle told the officers that on the night of the rapes, he had been out with his friends. He said that when he came home, he heard nothing. Later, Kinzle was brought to the police station for additional questioning, at which time he admitted to committing the attack. 

On March 25, 1996, in Bristol Superior Court, Kinzle pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated rape and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. On that same date, he pleaded guilty to entry of a dwelling by force and received a concurrent life sentence with the possibility of parole. He also pleaded guilty to armed burglary, assault with intent to murder, and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and received three concurrent sentences of 9 to 10 years in prison.

In granting parole, the Board stated that while incarcerated, Kinzle has completed 44 programs, including 13 programs since the last time he was before the Board. These programs include SOTP (Sex Offender Treatment Program) and the Victim Impact Program, which had been recommended by the Board at his 2019 hearing. He has been a Graduate Support Person for the Sex Offender Treatment Program, demonstrating his insight into the offending behavior. He is in mental health therapy and attends AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings weekly. Kinzle provided a forensic evaluation from Dr. Leonard Bard, a forensic psychologist with expertise in sexual offending behavior, who determined Kinzle to be a low risk of future sexual offending behavior. The Board considered Kinzle’s age at the time of his offenses. He has family and community support and a solid release plan. The Board heard testimony from William Canavan from The Baystate Reentry Network in support of parole. Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Michael Sheehan testified in opposition to parole, but acknowledged Kinzle’s progress towards rehabilitation. 

The conditions for Kinzle’s parole include: Waive work for program; 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(s); Must have substance abuse evaluation and follow recommendations; Must have mental health counseling for re-entry; Long-Term Residential Treatment Program, AA at least three times/week; Mandatory Sex A conditions.