The Massachusetts Parole Board has voted unanimously to grant parole to Richard Mayes, 78, who was convicted in 1983 of beating his 2-year-old son, Lawrence "Onaje" Jackson Ritchon, to death. After more than four decades in state custody, Mayes is now slated for release, a move that has drawn sharp opposition from prosecutors and fresh grief from the child's relatives.
Board Points To Sobriety, Work History And Clean Record
According to the Boston Herald, board members cited several factors in deciding that Mayes should be released. They pointed to testimony that he has maintained sobriety for roughly 30 years, held steady employment while incarcerated and avoided any major disciplinary reports for about a decade. Supportive statements from family members, including one from Mayes' daughter, were read into the record. The Berkshire County district attorney, however, urged the board to deny parole and argued that the original killing was especially brutal, the Herald reported.
Files Describe Fatal Wiffle-Ball Bat Beating
The Parole Board's record of decision, along with court filings, details the 1983 crime. Mayes was found to have used a plastic Wiffle-ball bat, as well as open hands and closed fists, to strike his 2-year-old son. The child suffered bruising on his chest, stomach, back and legs and died days later from a fatal brain hemorrhage. Those facts are outlined in the board's April 10, 2023 life-sentence decision, available on Mass.gov.
Parole Board Navigates New Legal And Political Heat
The Mayes decision lands at a tense moment for parole in Massachusetts. In January 2024, the state's Supreme Judicial Court barred mandatory life-without-parole sentences for so-called emerging adults ages 18 to 20, opening the door to hundreds of additional parole hearings, according to the AP. At the same time, who actually sits on the Parole Board has become a political flashpoint. An editorial in The Boston Globe highlighted the Governor's Council's recent rejection of one of Gov. Maura Healey's nominees to the panel, underscoring how closely these appointments are being watched.
What Happens After Parole Is Granted
Once a parole grant is certified, the board's Transitional Services unit takes the lead on release planning, according to the agency's annual reports. The Field Services Division is responsible for supervising parolees in the community, while the Victim Services unit manages notifications and victim impact statements. Standard parole conditions can include electronic monitoring, participation in treatment programs and other restrictions; violations can result in revocation of parole and a return to custody, under procedures outlined on Mass.gov.
Emotional Split Over Release And Next Steps
At the hearing, some relatives who supported Mayes' bid for freedom described him as a changed man and urged the board to let him out, while the Berkshire County district attorney emphasized the lasting trauma the killing inflicted on the boy's family, the Boston Herald reported. The board noted that Mayes had been turned down for parole at earlier hearings, but officials said this most recent vote was unanimous. A formal written decision is expected to be published, along with any specific conditions that will govern his release.
Legal Note
Mayes was 36 at the time of the offense, so he is not covered by the Supreme Judicial Court's Mattis decision, which applies only to people who were 18 to 20 years old when they committed their crimes. Even so, that ruling has reshaped parole caseloads and intensified debate over release decisions across Massachusetts, as criminal-justice advocates and prosecutors continue to weigh public safety against the prospect of rehabilitation.
