A 25-year-old Middleborough man was found guilty of murdering his parents in 2020 after a supposed argument with his father forced him to commit an act of self-defense.
The defendant, identified as Ryan True, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in Brockton Superior Court after a seven-day trial. In Massachusetts, a first-degree murder charge is punishable with up to life in prison without possibility of parole.
Man Found Guilty of Murdering Parents
True reportedly surrendered himself to law enforcement authorities on Dec. 10, 2020, a few hours after he fatally stabbed his parents. The victims were later identified as 52-year-old David True and 55-year-old Renee True.
Middleborough Police responded to the family's home earlier that morning to conduct a well-being check after the parents' employers reported they did not show up for work. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victims' bodies with multiple stab wounds and covered in blankets.
The suspect later returned to their home, where they murdered their parents and surrendered themselves to police. True told officials that he got into an argument with his father the night before the incident, according to The Enterprise.
While the suspect himself said that the tragic killings were an act of self-defense, police said there was no evidence showing his injuries were caused by defending himself. Additionally, the suspect's half-brother told authorities the convict had been having a "tough time" with his parents and did not want to take medication.
Following True's arraignment, he was held without bail and later brought to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation. There, medical professionals deemed him incompetent to stand trial.
Prosecutors said that the son, who has autism, used a pocket knife to stab his parents multiple times. The suspect's mother was also found to be a member of the Middleborough Public Schools' Transportation Department since 2007, WCVB reported.
An Act of Self-Defense
Brian E. Lynch, the superintendent of schools for Middleborough, said that Renee was a hard-working and dedicated employee. He noted that the mother was known for caring about every single child that she transported every day.
On the other hand, David worked for a paving and excavation company in Easton, which posted on Facebook that they called the employee "truly one of the best men we have had the privilege of knowing."
After True surrendered to police, he said his father was drunk, noting that the suspect only "did what he had to do," as per NBC Boston.
