After leaving a man to die in a burning house, his first chance at freedom has been denied

Decades after a house fire killed a man, the person convicted in the case went in front of the parole board for the first time — but the Massachusetts Parole Board fears his ongoing battle with addiction shows he’s not ready.

On May 7, 2005, in Kingston, 40-year-old Rick Amado spent the day drinking with friends, including at George Frazier III’s house. At one point, Frazier, 49, fell asleep.

Someone tried punching Frazier “but he was too intoxicated to get up from the couch,” the parole board wrote.

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Multiple men then began stealing from Frazier. And Amado lit a blanket on Frazier’s bed on fire.

“The men left the house, but no one attempted to rescue Mr. Frazier, who was unconscious,” the parole board wrote.

A neighbor noticed smoke coming from the house at around 6 p.m. By the time firefighters and a paramedic entered the burning home, Frazier was dead.

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On Dec. 10, 2008, Amado was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole following a jury trial in Plymouth County Superior Court. He was sentenced to a concurrent prison term of 19 years, 11 months to 20 years for arson of a dwelling or house.

His first time in front of the parole board to ask for his freedom was May 6. But he admitted to substance use within weeks of his hearing while living in Old Colony Correctional Center. He also continues to score as a high risk on the LS/CMI risk assessment tool.

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“The Board finds that Mr. Amado needs to further his efforts at rehabilitation,” the decision stated.

He was denied parole with another hearing planned in two years.