Family of Mass. ‘vampire killer’ urges parole board to keep him behind bars
Riva believed he was a 700-year-old vampire when he brutally killed his grandmother in 1980 and attempted to drink her blood.
The family of Marshfield’s “vampire killer” urged his parole board Thursday to keep him behind bars.
In 1980, 23-year-old James P. Riva shot his disabled grandmother four times with gold-painted bullets, stabbed her in the heart, doused her in gas, and set her home on fire. He also claimed he attempted to drink her blood.
While he was in jail, Riva reportedly told his mother he was a 700-year-old vampire and that the devil’s voice had told him he had to kill his grandmother — even though he didn’t want to.
Court documents show Riva had been committed to psychiatric facilities before the murder and testimony about his troubled past was given during his trial. Family said he drew pictures of people bleeding and being shot when he was in kindergarten and moved on to drawing vampires and women with puncture wounds when he was 13. He also allegedly cut out a cat’s brain and drank its blood at one point.
Four psychiatrists called as expert witnesses testified that Riva suffered from serious mental illness and lacked criminal responsibility for the crime. But Riva, who is now 62, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for arson and the murder of 74-year-old Carmen Lopez.
At Riva’s Thursday parole hearing, Marshfield Police Chief Phil Tavares spoke against him being released. Christine Nelson, Lopez’s daughter, spoke against it, too.
“I ask you to see this man for the dangerous individual that he is,” she said.
Riva stabbed a corrections officer in 1990 when he was apparently off his medication and allegedly sent his mother threatening letters as recently as 2009, though his lawyers dispute the latter claim.
According to WCVB-5, the parole board asked several questions about a recent episode of paranoia Riva apparently suffered about a week ago.
This is the fourth time he has appeared before the board. In his last appearance, which was in 2014, he reportedly told the board about a childhood full of sexual and physical abuse, psychiatric issues, and substance abuse.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com