Convicted Axe Murderer Released Early in Minnesota

A former murderer, convicted for hacking his parents and two young siblings to death in his teenage years, was released from prison earlier than planned due to a change in Minnesota law supported by Governor Tim Waltz.

David Brom, now 53, was granted an early release this past Tuesday, more than a decade before his original parole eligibility date. This news was reported by FOX9.

Brom, who was just 16 when he committed the horrific murders in 1988, was initially expected to remain behind bars until the 2070s.

His eligibility for parole came sooner than anticipated because of a law enacted in 2023, which prohibits life sentences without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders.

Governor Waltz, who previously ran for vice president, backed this law after it was passed by the Democratic-majority state legislature and Senate.

Democrats claimed the change was necessary to align with a Supreme Court ruling that disallowed life sentences without parole for juveniles, as reported by KTTC-TV.

Brom had spent over 35 years in prison following the brutal slaying of his parents, Paulette and Bernard, as well as his sister, Diane, and brother, Richard, at their home in Rochester on February 18, 1988. All four victims endured multiple axe wounds.

Despite alleging he was mentally ill during the crime, Brom was found guilty. The law changes mean that he and other convicted juveniles could seek parole earlier than before, following amendments to the Public Safety Expenses Act.

This new law enables certain individuals sentenced to life as juveniles to be eligible for parole after serving just 15 years.

Brom’s release was made retroactive to 2018, meaning that under previous laws, he would not have been eligible for parole until at least 2037.

Republican Senator Jordan Rasmuson opposed the changes, emphasizing that juvenile offenders should serve a minimum of 25 years.

Rasmuson expressed concerns about Brom’s release during the 2023 public safety discussions, saying it represents a failure of the justice system. He described Brom’s early release as a betrayal of the victims and a threat to public safety.

He remarked, “Brom committed one of the most horrifying crimes in our state’s history. To release him undermines the severity of the act and the suffering it caused.”

Following his release, Brom will be under supervision and required to wear a GPS monitor in the Twin Cities area. Efforts to contact Governor Waltz’s office for comments did not receive an immediate response.