David Brom, now 53, the man convicted as a teenager for brutally murdering his parents and two younger siblings with an ax in 1988, is scheduled to move out of prison and into a Twin Cities halfway house later this month, according to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.
Brom committed the quadruple homicide when he was just 16 years old, killing his father, Bernard, mother, Paulette, 13-year-old sister Diane, and 11-year-old brother Richard. He was captured the next day and, in 1989, received three consecutive life sentences, each carrying a minimum of roughly 17.5 years before parole eligibility.
His release stems from a 2023 law change in Minnesota that eliminated life‑without‑parole sentences for offenders convicted as juveniles, allowing review after serving 15 years. Though Brom became eligible in 2018, he only earned approval for work-release status following a 5–1 vote by the state’s supervised release board in January.
Under the terms of his release, Brom will be transferred from the Lino Lakes facility to a halfway house in the Twin Cities on July 29, where he’ll begin work-release, remain under GPS monitoring, and report to a case manager. His next parole board review is slated for January 2026.
In a rare statement, Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, who responded to the scene more than three decades ago, acknowledged the community’s trauma but said the public must trust the Board’s decision. “It is still hard for me to accept and forget the sights and smells… we must trust the parole board’s decision and hope Mr. Brom is ready,” Torgerson said.
Brom reportedly expressed remorse and personal growth during his parole review, admitting to struggling with depression that “clouded” his judgment and apologizing for the devastating impact of his crimes. Records show prison officials consider him a model inmate who has participated in rehabilitation and mental health programs.
Many community figures, including former prosecuting attorneys, opposed Brom’s release, stressing the brutality of the murders and the need for accountability. Conversely, criminal justice advocates praised the law revision, saying it rectifies previous policies that imposed equivalent punishment on juveniles and adults, regardless of age or capacity for reform
Brom’s release marks a significant moment in Minnesota’s criminal justice reform, prompting reflection on juvenile sentencing, rehabilitation, and public safety. His case will remain under close observed reintegration as the state balances justice for past crimes with support for reformed lives.
