Early Release for Minnesota Man Convicted of Family Murders

A man from Minnesota, convicted in 1988 of murdering his parents and younger siblings as a teenager, has been released early due to new legal reforms supported by Governor Tim Walz.

David Brom, now 53, was placed on work release beginning July 29, as per the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He was 16 when he committed the crimes against his mother, Paulette, father, Bernard, sister, Diane, and brother, Richard at their Rochester home. Investigators found that the victims had suffered numerous head injuries.

Brom had pleaded not guilty, citing mental health issues, but was ultimately found guilty of murder. He received three consecutive life sentences along with one concurrent life sentence. Although he was initially eligible for parole in 2037, changes in the law allowed for this earlier release.

New legislation signed by Walz in 2023 permits individuals convicted as minors to seek a review for early release after serving a specified period. This law applies retroactively, impacting cases like Brom’s. Depending on the severity of the original crime, he could be reviewed after serving 15, 20, or even 30 years.

It’s notable that Brom was deemed retroactively eligible for release in 2018. Recently, a committee voted 5-1 in favor of his work release application. According to a spokesperson for the Corrections Department, Brom will be monitored through GPS tracking as he transitions to life outside of prison.

The supervision board will reassess his case come January, as part of the ongoing process to ensure adherence to the terms of his release.