Parole board denies mall rapist release

PEABODY – The state Parole Board denied parole Tuesday to Phillip Pizzo, the so-called mall rapist who terrorized women at North Shore shopping centers in the 1980s.Pizzo, 60, formerly of Westford, pleaded guilty in 1984 to 13 counts of aggravated rape, four counts of armed robbery while masked and two counts of armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to concurrent life terms in state prison.During the Jan. 5 parole hearing, Essex Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Bresler said, “Phillip Pizzo may be the worst rapist in the history of Massachusetts.”The repeat assailant was also convicted of seven counts of kidnapping and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 9-10 years in state prison on each count, to run concurrent with the life sentences. The court further declared Pizzo a “sexually dangerous person” in 1985 and, as a result, he was sentenced to one day to life at the Massachusetts Treatment Center. In 2009, the court determined Pizzo was no longer a “sexually dangerous person,” but prosecutors disagreed.”This is a violent predator who should never see the light of day and the public can be assured that five years from now, when he is again parole-eligible, we will be present to vigorously oppose his release under any circumstances,” said Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett.Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone added that Pizzo admitted to 11 counts of aggravated rape and five counts of kidnapping at the time of his conviction in Middlesex County. “Phillip Pizzo’s crimes were both far reaching and extremely disturbing, and his series of rapes and kidnappings committed against young women terrorized residents across Eastern Massachusetts,” the prosecutor said. “We are pleased with the Parole Board’s decision to deny this inmate parole.”At shopping malls in Essex and Middlesex Counties, Pizzo accosted women at knifepoint while masked, forced them into their cars and placed a mask over their faces to prevent them from seeing. He would then take them to his home and rape them.One woman kidnapped at Meadow Glen Mall in Medford was stabbed in the face when she attempted to flee.Pizzo was arrested after police spotted his blue 1976 Cadillac being driven aimlessly through a shopping mall parking lot. Victims later identified Pizzo through items in his home or car. The sex crimes spanned Essex and Middlesex counties and other Pizzo rapes were suspected in Norfolk County.The Parole Board noted in its Feb. 11 decision that in view of Pizzo’s violent and sexually deviant behavior, its members do not believe that he is ready for community supervision. “To release him at this time would be an injustice to Mr. Pizzo and the community. In this case, public safety requires further incarceration,” the board stated in its ruling.