Massachusetts man convicted of killing a classmate as a teenager and paroled after 37 years

A Massachusetts man convicted of killing one of his classmates as a teenager because he “wanted to know what it was like to kill someone” was paroled Wednesday after spending 37 years behind bars .

Rod Matthews was granted parole by Community Resources for Justice, a nonprofit that helps formerly incarcerated people, after spending nine months in a lower-security prison, the Massachusetts Parole Board said.

As part of his probation, he will have a curfew of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the probation order said. He must also submit to other conditions, including electronic gestures, drug and alcohol testing and not being with the victim’s family.

Matthews was convicted of second-degree murder in the March 10, 1988, death of Shaun Ouillette, the parole board said. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Matthews, then 14, told two of his classmates in October 1986 that he “wanted to know what it was like to kill someone,” documents show.

Matthews told his friends that he chose Ouillette: “[because he] “Would be easy to reach and he would probably be the least missed… (because he) didn’t have many friends,” documents show.

Matthews invited Ouillette to his home on November 20, 1986 and suggested they go into the woods to build a fort.

In the woods, Matthews swung a baseball bat at Ouillette’s head several times, killing him. Before he left, he cleaned the blood from the club with snow.

Shortly thereafter, Matthews went to his friend’s house to tell him about the murder. He told a friend that he killed the boy “just for fun.”

The friend told another friend about the murder until Matthews and the friend took her to view the body days later.

Matthews threatened to kill the two friends if they told anyone about the murder.

One of Ouillette’s friends sent an anonymous letter to police in December 1986 stating that Matthews had killed Ouillette and detailing the location of the body.

Police found the body on December 11, 1986. Two days later, Matthews was charged.

The parole board said Matthews had not committed a violent incident since his conviction. He has also completed several rehabilitation programs that have made him more empathetic and understanding of the damage he has caused. He has also earned 72 college credits and worked as a medical attendant.

Documents show that Matthew’s niece and one of his mentors testified in favor of his parole.