News

Man who killed pregnant mother, 2 children as a teen remaining behind bars

A judge ruled Thursday that a man convicted of killing a pregnant woman and her children in 1987 will remain behind bars for his full sentence.

"Based on the court's sentence of three consecutive life sentences. Mr. LaPlante is not eligible for parole until he has served 45 years," the judge announced.

Using a 2013 SJC ruling, Daniel LaPlante's attorney tried to argue the teen killer's three life sentences without parole needed to be adjusted. This would have allowed him to ask for parole after serving 30 of his 45 years.

LaPlante was 17 when he brutally murdered a pregnant woman and her two children in their Townsend home in 1987.

The judge who sentenced him gave him the maximum sentence of three life terms in prison and said that given the details, even that sentence was too lenient.

Recent high court rulings have outlawed life with no parole sentences for teenage killers.

In court, he apologized for the killings.

“I do not have the words to fully express my profound sorrow,” he said. “But I am truly sorry for the harm that I've caused. From the very essence of who I am, from the depths of my soul, I am sorry.”

Family members of the victims were desperately hoping the judge would reject LaPlante’s plea, and they got their wish.

LaPlante now won't be able to go before the parole board for another 15 years, making him 60 years old.