A parole hearing for Francis Soffen was cancelled after the state failed to find a proper van to transport the inmate to the hearing in Natick.
Convicted murderer Francis Soffen gestures at his parole hearing on July 6, 998 in Boston.NATICK - The chairman of the Massachusetts Parole Board on Tuesday apologized to family members of two murder victims from Western Massachusetts, after canceling the parole hearing of a convicted killer because the state was unable to transport the inmate to the hearing.
The apology by Joshua Wall came as the overhauled board is attempting to improve its operations. Gov. Deval L. Patrick appointed Wall and four other new members earlier this year after a Woburn police officer was slain in December by an inmate released by prior board members.
Wall said the cancellation of the hearing was "a terrific inconvenience" and an emotional disruption for family members. "It was a mistake of human error," Wall said. "I apologize for that."
Wall said the state Department of Corrections could not obtain the proper van to transport Francis F. Soffen, 72, who uses a wheelchair.
Soffen, an inmate at a state prison in Shirley, is serving two life sentences after being convicted of second-degree murder in the 1972 execution-style killings of Gary J. Dube of Agawam and Steven J. Perrot of Springfield.
Family members of victims were planning to testify against Soffen's release. They drove about 75 miles to the board's offices in Natick and then were forced to wait for about 90 minutes before learning the hearing was being postponed to Aug. 19.
Caitlin Casey, chief of staff for the parole board, said it's very rare for a parole hearing to be canceled because of a problem in transporting an inmate.
Diane Wiffin, public affairs director for the state Department of Corrections, also issued an apology.
“There was a miscommunication regarding the hearing date," Wiffin said. "As a result, the resources needed to accommodate specific transportation needs of Mr. Soffen were unavailable. We are looking to identify exactly how this miscommunication happened to ensure it does not happen again. The DOC joins the Parole Board in extending apologies to the victim’s family.”
An angry Bonnie Dube Clark gestures at the parole hearing July 6, 1998 in Boston for convicted murderer Francis Soffen.Wall opened the hearing to take the testimony of a single witness, Charlene R. Russ, a nursing assistant from Hendersonville, N. C. who flew to Massachusetts for the hearing.
"I am disappointed," said Russ, who was one of four sisters of Dube to attend the hearing.
Russ pleaded with the board to deny parole for Soffen. "He's a dangerous man," she said. "I'm very worried for my family."
Another sister, Bonnie J. Dube Clark, 65, of Agawam, said the state corrections department should be more organized, but she accepts that mistakes happen.
"I wasn't pleased but what are you going to do?" she said after the hearing. "You can't fight City Hall."
Seven family members of Perrot also attended including a son, Michael S. Perrot of Agawam.
Two nieces of Soffen, including Maureen A. Maynard of Enfield, a registered nurse at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and Debra A. Allen of Springfield, also made the long drive from Western Massachusetts for the hearing and waited for 90 minutes until learning their uncle would not attend.
"He's sick," Maynard said before getting in her car to drive back to her home. "I don't believe he will be alive to see another parole hearing."
Wall said he has been assured by the state corrections department that a van will be available to carry Soffen to the hearing on Aug. 19.
Soffen has prostate cancer and other health problems including hepatitis and high blood pressure, according to his nieces.
In a plea bargain, Soffen, formerly of Springfield, admitted killing the two men. He was given two concurrent sentences of 15 years to life for the killings.
The Parole Board faced a storm of criticism after Domenic Cinelli, a longtime criminal, fatally shot Woburn Patrolman John Maguire on Dec. 26. Cinelli had been sentenced to three concurrent sentences of 15 years to life. The Parole Board had voted unanimously to release him about two years earlier.