A Massachusetts man who has been asking for parole for nearly 30 years finally has his chance at freedom.
On Aug. 24, 1983, George Haggerty, of Springfield, was convicted of unarmed robbery, burglary and assault on occupant after a jury trial in Hampden Superior Court. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
A year before, 29-year-old Haggerty broke into 82-year-old Ester Owens’ home by cutting part of a screen door on a fire escape, according to The Morning Union in 1983. Haggerty beat Owens and stole numerous items from her house.
The woman’s jaw was broken in several places and her eyes and face were swollen. She required several surgeries on her jaw. And she was in intensive care in July after she had heart failure. She remained hospitalized and died of a heart attack on Aug. 11, 1982.
Police later found two televisions and two watches belonging to Owens in Haggerty’s home.
His first hearing was in 1997, but he was denied. He also had parole hearings in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2022, all of which were denied.
Haggerty, now 72, has been incarcerated for 43 years.
The Massachusetts Parole Board stated Haggerty has been sober since 1996 and has had no disciplinary reports since 2018. He has also done multiple programs since his last hearing.
“He appeared to benefit from his investment in programming since his last hearing,” the parole board wrote. “Mr. Haggerty noted that it took him a long time to invest in self-development.”
Two members of Owens’ family believed he should be given the opportunity for parole. Hampden County Assistant District Attorney Lee Baker, however, was against him getting parole.
“The Board concludes by unanimous decision that George Haggerty has demonstrated a level of rehabilitation that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society,” the board wrote.
Overall, there were 1,436 people were on parole in Massachusetts in 2025. There were also 1,208 discharges from parole.
