Mass. Man paroled 37 years after murdering classmate

A man convicted of killing a Canton High School classmate when he was 14 was paroled after serving 37 years, according to a ruling released Wednesday.

In 1988, a Norfolk Superior Court convicted Rod Matthews of second-degree murder for killing Shaun Ouillette and sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Matthews made his fifth application for parole before the Massachusetts Parole Board in June.

The board concluded that Matthews “has demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that makes his release compatible with the welfare of society.”

In late October 1986, Matthews told two of his classmates that he “wanted to know what it was like to kill someone,” the decision says. Matthews decided to kill Ouillette because, as he later told his friends, “he would be easy to get to and he would probably be missed the least” because he didn't have many friends.

On November 20, 1986, Matthews invited Ouillette to his home after school and suggested they go into the woods to build a fort. While in the woods, Matthews hit Ouillette in the head with a baseball bat so hard that his skull was badly crushed.

After hitting Ouillette repeatedly in the head, Matthews cleaned the blood off the bat with snow and then left the woods.

Shortly after killing Ouillette, he went to a friend's house and told him about the murder. Matthews then took his friend to look at Ouillette's body. When the friend asked why he killed Ouillette, he replied, “Just for fun.”

Matthews' friend told another friend about the murder, who refused to believe it until he and Matthews took him to view the body days later. Matthews threatened the two friends, saying they could be his next victims if they told anyone about the murder.

In early December, one of Ouillette's friends sent an anonymous letter to police stating that Matthews had killed Ouillette and describing the location of the body.

Investigators found Ouillette's body on December 11, 1986. On December 13, Matthews was arrested and arraigned at a juvenile hearing in Stoughton District Court. He was then transferred to the Supreme Court Division for arraignment as an adult. On July 5, 1987, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted Matthews for murder.

Matthews has previously been denied parole in 2001, 2007, 2016 and 2021.

“My stomach is churning with fear because I took another human being's life,” Matthews said during his sentencing hearing in 2016. “I wish it had been me and not Shaun.”

Given Matthews' age at the time of the offense and the nature of the crime, the parole board requested intensive rehabilitation programming to address his needs, from which he has reportedly benefited.

Since Matthews' last hearing, the parole board said he has completed several programs that have increased his “insight, empathy and appreciation for the harm he has caused to victims and the community.”

Matthews works six days a week as a medical attendant, helping the most vulnerable population cope with daily life. He has had no violent incidents in 37 years. He has no history of substance abuse. He has also earned 72 college credits and developed professional skills.

The panel also believed Matthews' history of adverse childhood experiences and untreated mental health issues contributed to the offending.

An expert forensic assessment concluded that Matthews no longer requires incarceration to ensure the safety of the community. The committee also wrote that it is important to distinguish juvenile murderers from adult murderers.

The committee heard testimony from three of the victim's family members, Canton Police Chief Helena Rafferty and Norfolk County ADA Michael McGee, all of whom opposed his release. Two doctors, Matthews' niece and a mentor spoke in favor of his parole.

Matthews' attorney, Christopher Saccardi, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The first step in Matthews' release is a nine-month move to reduce security. Once released from prison, he will be subject to a 10pm to 6am curfew and will wear an electronic monitor for the first six months.

He is forbidden from having any contact with the victim's family and must stay away from the city where they live.

“I can't believe it; I just can’t find the words,” Jeanne Quinn, Ouillette’s mother, told WCVB. “There is such a thing as evil, and I believe it is evil. “

Quinn told the news station that she has found it in her heart to forgive Matthews, but believes he is still dangerous.

“I’m scared to death,” she said. “It really bothers me that they allow this to happen.”

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Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter at Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime and business in the New England region.

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