BROCKTON, Mass. — The state Parole Board has again denied parole to a man convicted of killing his grandmother, drinking blood from her wounds, and then setting her body on fire in Marshfield in 1980.
James Riva II, 67, who has been behind bars for more than four decades, was found guilty of second-degree murder in 1981. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
On Jan. 30, the Parole Board issued its decision denying parole for Riva for the fifth time, following other decisions denying him parole in 2019, 2014, 2009, and 2004, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said Thursday.
“This defendant murdered his own grandmother and set her on fire,” Cruz said in a statement. “I can only describe his actions as brutal, senseless and inhumane. Our streets and communities are safer today with Riva remaining in prison.”
On April 10, 1980, Marshfield Police and Fire responded to the home of 74-year-old Carmen Lopez, Riva’s grandmother, for reports of a house fire.
After crews extinguished the fire, they found Lopez’s body on a bedroom floor. An autopsy later revealed that Lopez had been shot multiple times.
Investigators determined that on the day of the murder, Riva, then 22, borrowed a car and drove to his grandmother’s house.
Lopez asked Riva to do a load of laundry, and while in the basement, Riva retrieved a gun that had been painted gold and bullets. He went back upstairs where he shot his grandmother several times, Cruz said.
After shooting her, he dragged her body into a bedroom and drank blood from his grandmother’s wounds, prosecutors said.
Afterward, Riva poured dry gas on his grandmother and lit her body on fire and left the house.
Riva told investigators that he needed the gun to protect himself from vampires, and that he painted the gun and the bullets gold because he believed this was the only way that vampires could be shot.
Riva was also found guilty of arson and sentenced to a consecutive term of 19 to 20 years.
In their decision, the Parole Board wrote, “The Board remains concerned that, within the last five years, he (Riva) became symptomatic with extreme paranoia similar to his delusions that occurred prior to the homicide. The Board also verbalized concerns that he may continue to harbor animosity toward those who (he believes) have wronged him.”
The board went on in their decision, “Mr. Riva continues to perseverate on his perceived injustices and affronts as endorsed by his continued court filings. The content of such filings raises concern that he has not resolved his anger and resentments.”
Riva will be eligible for another parole review in October 2027.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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