SALEM — A state parole board has denied parole to a man currently serving jail time on a murder conviction for the 1987 stabbing death of a 28-year-old Lynn man.
This is the fourth time the Massachusetts Parole Board has denied parole for Frank Lanza, who murdered James Paradis as Paradis came to the rescue of a woman caught in Lanza’s 1987 drug-fueled robbery, according to a press release from the Essex County District Attorney’s office.
District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said in the release he was “pleased” Lanza will remain in jail.
“He took the life of a man who was bravely rushing to aid his neighbor and in doing so, devastated the victim’s family,” Blodgett said in the release.
The release states that on Oct. 23, 1987, Lanza had run out of drugs and ventured into a third-floor apartment at 17 William St. in Lynn, where he had purchased drugs in the past, with the intention of robbing the apartment’s occupants of drugs and money.
According to the release the following events occurred: At about 3 a.m., Lanza broke into the apartment wearing a Halloween mask and armed with a knife. Two women were asleep in the apartment with five children. One of the women woke up as Lanza demanded that she give him money and cocaine. She gave him money, and he continued to threaten her with the knife. During this struggle, the woman screamed out for help. James Paradis, who lived on the building’s floor, heard the screams and ran upstairs to help. As Lanza was fleeing the building, he stabbed Paradis twice in the chest. Paradis died from the stab wounds.
In opposing parole, Essex Assistant District and Appeals Division Chief Elin Graydon pointed to Lanza’s repeated denial of parole based on his extensive criminal record and his appparent lack of insight and remorse for the crime. She also highlighted Lanza’s 18 disciplinary reports, which occurred while he was actively seeking parole, stating, “[W]hether his disregard of the rules is willful or whether he simply acts without thinking of the consequences, one must question the effectiveness of his efforts to be rehabilitated.”
The board ruled that Lanza will not be eligible for parole for another five years.
Their decision was released Nov. 7 but announced in a press release Jan. 16.
