Parole Board denies release for Matthew Worster, who murdered his mother in Easton at 17

SOUTH COAST The Massachusetts Parole Board has denied parole to Matthew Worster, the Easton man serving a life sentence for murdering his mother at their home in 2011, when he was 17. The board concluded that Worster, now 32, "has not demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society."

The decision is dated Monday. Worster's next review is in two years from the date of his hearing. Two of the six voting board members went further, voting to deny parole with a five-year review.

Worster appeared before the board April 2 for his first parole hearing, represented by Attorney Kelly Auer. It was his initial bid for release under his sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

On May 4, 2011, Worster shot his mother, Beth Spartichino, at the family's home in Easton. That morning he called his father from his mother's phone and left a voicemail stating, "I did what I had to do but know that I will be alright." His father called police in the late afternoon and told them his son may have done something to his ex-wife. Police spoke with Worster's younger brother, who told them Worster had admitted to shooting their mother. Officers found a large patch of disturbed earth in the backyard, and the next day police unearthed Spartichino's body.

On Aug. 14, 2015, in Bristol County Superior Court, Worster pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree for his mother's death, along with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. A week later, on Aug. 21, 2015, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder, with concurrent two-year terms for each of the firearm offenses.

In reaching its decision, the board reviewed the facts and circumstances of the crime, an evaluation by Dr. Guidry, and Worster's age at the time of the offense under the factors courts apply to people sentenced for crimes committed as teenagers. The board found that Worster only recently started processing the full extent of his trauma history and that he would benefit from further rehabilitation and insight into that history.

The board noted that Worster has taken part in programming and educational programming and has been free of disciplinary reports since 2017, and it encouraged him to continue his rehabilitation efforts.

Two of Worster's family members and a friend testified in support of parole. Three of Spartichino's family members testified against it, as did Bristol County Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan.

Under state law, the board grants parole only when it finds a reasonable probability that a prisoner would live and remain at liberty without violating the law and that release is not incompatible with the welfare of society. The board weighs institutional behavior, participation in work, education and treatment programs, the nature of the offense, the inmate's age at the time, the criminal and institutional record, hearing testimony and the views of the public.

The voting members were board Chair Angelo Gomez Jr., Edith J. Alexander, Dr. Charlene Bonner, Sarah B. Coughlin, James Kelcourse and Rafael Ortiz. Alexander was not present for the April hearing and reviewed the video recording and the full file before voting.

Worster remains in state custody. His next parole review comes two years from the April hearing, in 2028.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.