Massachusetts Parole Board grants release to man who killed convenience store owner

A convicted first-degree murderer who killed a convenience store owner in front of her -year-old daughter has been granted parole The Massachusetts Parole Board is releasing Rolando Rodriguez who was when he stabbed -year-old Kenia Melo to death while trying to rob her Chelsea convenience store in Rodriguez a year later was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole But he became eligible for parole after last year s Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court s decision when the SJC ruled it s unconstitutional to sentence emerging adults to years old to life in prison without parole Then earlier this year Rodriguez appeared before the state s parole board for an initial hearing and now the board is granting his release despite opposition from the Suffolk DA s office Suffolk prosecutor Montez Haywood during the parole hearing called the slaying a callous brutal murder The harm that he Rodriguez caused on April is so great clearly still felt by this family clearly the world was robbed of Ms Melo and her impact on this world Haywood stated On the morning of the murder Melo was working behind the store s counter while her -year-old daughter slept on a comforter beside her and Melo s husband slept in the downstairs stockroom Then at around a m Rodriguez entered the store with a butcher knife approached Melo and demanded money Melo refused to hand over cash as Rodriguez jumped over the counter and tried to open the cash register Melo tried to stop him and the struggle woke up her daughter The two tried to stop Rodriguez from opening the register During the struggle Rodriguez slashed Melo across the face with the butcher s knife and then stabbed her two times in the back Melo s husband heard the struggle and ran upstairs He saw Rodriguez leaving the store and fleeing the area Melo was transported to the hospital where she died an hour later Related Articles Massachusetts Parole Board is freeing convicted murderer who killed -year-old man Massachusetts Parole Board is freeing a convicted murderer who killed a mother of four Massachusetts convicted murderer is granted parole for sixth time Massachusetts Parole Board freeing another convicted first-degree murderer Massachusetts Parole Board grants release to convicted murderer who killed girl The parole board in its decision noted that Rodriguez was being housed in lower guard and that a professional ruled his threat assessment was exceptionally low vulnerability He has completed more than rehabilitative programs and began investing in his rehabilitative efforts well before the Mattis SJC decision the board wrote He has a minimal history of disciplinary reports during his years of incarceration He presents with a comprehensive re-entry plan Mr Rodriguez has maintained his sobriety while incarcerated the board added The Board considered the testimony of the victim s family in opposition to parole The Board also considered testimony in opposition to parole from Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Montez Haywood The Board concludes by unanimous decision that Rolando Rodriguez has demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society