MANSFIELD – John F. Boyle Jr., the former medical doctor infamous for the brutal murder of his wife in Mansfield, Ohio, back in 1989, has once again been denied parole. This marks the second time the Ohio Parole Board has rejected his plea for release, according to a decision released by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Boyle, now 77 years old, is serving a sentence of 20 years to life for aggravated murder, along with an additional 18 months for abuse of a corpse. He entered the Ohio prison system on July 6, 1990, and subsequently lost his medical license following his conviction in what was locally known as the “trial of the century.”
The gruesome crime dates back to New Year’s Eve 1989 when police believe Dr. John Boyle murdered his wife, Noreen Boyle. The parole board’s report indicates that Boyle inflicted blunt force trauma to her head before ultimately suffocating her with a plastic bag.
The official parole board decision, validated on December 2nd on behalf of the chair, stated: “The Board finds that given the seriousness of Offender Boyle’s crimes, marked by extreme brutality, callousness reflected in his treatment of the victim’s body and extended victimization, his release at this time would create an undue risk to public safety, thereby rendering him unsuitable for release.”
The Brutality of Dr John Boyle’s Crime and Parole Board’s Rationale
Adding further emphasis to their decision, the parole board also highlighted the substantial risk to public safety and the lack of furtherance of justice should Boyle be released. They explicitly stated that releasing Boyle “would not further the interest of justice or be consistent with the welfare and security of society” due to the “serious nature of the crime.”
Collier Landry, son of Noreen Boyle and Dr. John Boyle, discusses his documentary film about his mother’s murder and his father’s trial.
Details of the Murder and Subsequent Investigation
Dr. John Boyle has now served 369 months behind bars. His next opportunity for parole consideration is scheduled for October 1, 2025.
The investigation into Noreen Boyle’s disappearance quickly led authorities to suspect foul play. Acting on information, partly provided by the Boyles’ own children, law enforcement obtained search warrants. Tragically, Noreen Boyle’s body was discovered on January 25, 1990, buried beneath the basement floor of a new home Boyle had purchased in Erie, Pennsylvania.
The marital discord preceding the murder also came to light. Noreen Boyle had filed for divorce in November 1989, citing extreme mental cruelty and gross neglect after 22 years of marriage. The couple had two children: an adopted daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Collier, who was 12 years old at the time of the trial and became a crucial witness for the prosecution against Dr. John Boyle.
Dr. Boyle’s recent parole hearing took place on October 29th at the Marion Correctional Institution, according to JoEllen Smith, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
Dr John Boyle’s Previous Parole Denial and Conflicting Accounts
This recent denial is not the first time Dr. John Boyle has been refused parole. He faced the Ohio Parole Board previously on December 7, 2010, and was denied release at that time as well.
In the 2010 decision, the parole board detailed the horrific nature of the crime, stating that Dr. Boyle “killed his wife during an argument New Year’s Day 1990 by suffocation and blunt force trauma to the head.” The report further noted that Boyle transported her body in the trunk of a car after misleading his children about their mother’s whereabouts. He then buried her body, nude and wrapped in plastic with a bag over her head, in the basement of his newly acquired Pennsylvania home using a rented jackhammer and cement.
The parole board highlighted Dr. Boyle’s shifting narrative, noting that he “denied for years” his involvement in his wife’s death. In a significant shift, he eventually admitted to causing her death, but minimized his culpability, claiming it was a result of pushing her, causing her to hit her head, and not premeditated murder.
Dr. Boyle’s account further claimed that he attempted CPR on his wife for 15 to 30 minutes after the incident, “without summoning medical help,” according to the parole board’s summary of his testimony.
In 2010, the parole board concluded that releasing Dr. Boyle “would not further the interest of justice and would demean the seriousness of the brutal crime.” This sentiment clearly remains unchanged with the latest parole denial.
The Lasting Impact and Son’s Documentary: “A Murder in Mansfield”
The tragic case of Dr. John Boyle and Noreen Boyle continues to resonate in Mansfield and beyond. Collier Landry, Noreen and John Boyle’s son, who was a key witness in the original trial, has kept the memory of his mother and the details of the case alive. Using his adopted name, Collier Landry produced a documentary film in 2017 titled “A Murder in Mansfield.” The film explores the impact of the murder and trial, offering a personal perspective on the events that shook the community and forever changed his life.
For those wishing to express their views regarding Dr. Boyle’s potential future parole hearings, written statements can be submitted to the Ohio Parole Board. Statements should be sent to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 4545 Fisher Road, Suite D, Columbus, OH 43228, and must include Dr. John Boyle’s name and inmate number, A222633.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir
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