Minnesota Man Granted Parole After Decades in Prison for Killing Family as Teen

David Brom, convicted of killing four family members with an ax in 1988, has been granted parole by the Minnesota Department of Corrections' Supervised Release Board.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 8:23pm

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David Brom, who was 16 years old when he killed four members of his family with an ax in 1988, has been granted parole by the Minnesota Department of Corrections' Supervised Release Board. Brom has been in prison for over 35 years, with only a single infraction during his incarceration. The board voted 5-2 in favor of granting Brom parole, and the transition from his work release status to full parole is expected to take one to three months.

Why it matters

Brom's case has been high-profile in Minnesota, and his release on parole has generated a range of responses in the state. The case also highlights the ongoing debate around sentencing and rehabilitation for juvenile offenders, as Brom would have received a much shorter sentence if he had been tried as a juvenile.

The details

Brom was 16 years old in 1988 when he killed four members of his family in their home on the outskirts of Rochester, Minnesota. He was originally sentenced to three life sentences of 17 1/2 years each, but a 2023 law change reducing the minimum time of imprisonment for offenders who received life sentences before they were 18 significantly bumped up his parole eligibility. After shifting from incarceration to work release and a Twin Cities halfway house last summer, Brom has been working in cabinetry, gotten a driver's license, and navigated the changes in society since he was first incarcerated.

  • Brom was 16 years old when he committed the murders in 1988.
  • Brom has been in prison for over 35 years.
  • Brom was granted work release and a move to a Twin Cities halfway house last summer.
  • The Minnesota Department of Corrections' Supervised Release Board voted 5-2 to grant Brom parole on January 27, 2026.
  • Brom's transition from work release to full parole is expected to take one to three months.

The players

David Brom

A man who was 16 years old when he killed four members of his family with an ax in 1988. He has been in prison for over 35 years and was recently granted parole by the Minnesota Department of Corrections' Supervised Release Board.

Minnesota Department of Corrections' Supervised Release Board

The board that voted 5-2 to grant David Brom parole after he had served over 35 years in prison for killing four family members as a teenager.

Paul Welchert

Brom's advocate who spoke on his behalf during the parole hearing, describing him as a planner who is thoughtful and composed.

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What they’re saying

“The transition has actually been very smooth. Not that there hasn't been issues or difficulties or struggles, but it has been relatively smooth.”

— David Brom

“I'm surprised, but I shouldn't be surprised, at how well he's doing.”

— Paul Welchert, Brom's advocate

What’s next

The judge in Brom's case will finalize the conditions of his parole over the next one to three months as his transition to full release is completed.

The takeaway

Brom's case highlights the ongoing debate around sentencing and rehabilitation for juvenile offenders, as he would have received a much shorter sentence if he had been tried as a juvenile. His successful transition to work release and now parole after over 35 years in prison also demonstrates the potential for rehabilitation, even in high-profile violent crime cases.