The Massachusetts Parole Board has denied parole to James Riva II, a 67-year-old man who, in a grisly act more than four decades ago, shot his grandmother, drank blood from her wounds, and then set her ablaze in her own home in Marshfield. This marks the fifth time Riva has been denied release following his conviction for second-degree murder in 1981, an event that continues to chill the community to this day. As reported by Boston 25 News, Riva's parole denial comes amidst concerns from the board over his unresolved issues with anger and potential lingering extreme paranoia.
The incident that led to Riva's incarceration occurred on April 10, 1980, when he borrowed a car and drove to the house of his 74-year-old grandmother, Carmen Lopez. According to the prosecution, after Lopez requested her grandson to do a load of laundry, Riva retrieved a gold-painted gun and bullets from the basement. He would then proceed to shoot Lopez multiple times following an initial, seemingly innocuous encounter. Following the cold-blooded murder, he attempted to hastily cover his tracks by disposing the weapon and acting nonchalant upon returning to collect his father. The details of the crime, as obtained by MassLive, paint the picture of a premeditated and macabre event, one not easily forgotten by those who hear of it.
In a statement obtained by Boston 25 News, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz labeled Riva's actions as "brutal, senseless and inhumane," indicating that the community's safety is assured with Riva behind bars. The Parole Board cited their hesitation to release Riva due to a recent display of symptoms similar to the extreme paranoia and delusions that preceded the murder. Furthermore, they noted his persistent focus on perceived injustices, a troubling sign that he may not have fully reconciled his past grievances.
Riva's version of events, confessed during police questioning back then, involved reference to vampires and other fantastical elements, which he believed required a golden gun and bullets to combat. It was this distortion of reality that ultimately fed into the irrational and violent decisions leading to his grandmother's death. As mentioned by MassLive, Riva's adherence to sober living since 1980 and long-term commitment to Bridgewater State Hospital appears not to have sufficiently alleviated the board's fears. They continue to be concerned that he might still harbor resentment against those he perceives to have wronged him. Riva is to be eligible for another parole review in October 2027.
