Worcester man, who killed and burned the woman on the roof, asks for probation

A man from Worcester said for decades that he set fire to a woman and killed her in April 1990 because she would not have sex with him. She also had the desire to find out how life after death was.

Now he says this is a lie.

The 57 -year -old Richard Desrosier has been in prison for 35 years after he was guilty of murder of Karen barrier in April 1990. Desrosier owed himself less than a year after the murder of being guilty of the second degree on the Worcester Superior Court Murder.

Desrosier was successfully withdrawn in 2000, but in 2002 the State Court of Appeal opened the decision and reinstated its conviction and life sentence. The sentence came with the possibility of probation.

On April 22nd, he was in front of the probation helper for the fifth time.

What happened in April 1990?

In the afternoon of April 16, 1990, Desrosier was at Barriere, 19, and two others when they bought some beer and vodka. Desrosier, then 22, went away with a barrier when they all went to the roof of the Union Station, such as the decision of the 2015 probation committee.

One of the witnesses checked her, but Desrosier told the witness that he should go away.

“Don't get closer here,” said Desrosier according to the decision of the 2015 probation committee. “She is dead. She would not have (sex) with me, so I killed her.”

The probation helper wrote: “The witness approached and saw Mrs. Barriere, who was naked on the roof, and her upper body and head were devoured in flames.”

Desrosier then threatened the witnesses to stay still. The witness ran away and told the police what happened. Barrier was found on the lower level of the roof after her body was thrown out of the upper level, the decision says.

“The medical examiner found that the victim died of dull strength trauma, thermal injuries to the neck and smoke in the smoke,” the decision said. “The victim's facial features were burned beyond recognition, but their identity was confirmed by her fingerprints.”

“That was a lie”

During the first three hearings by Desrosier, he told The Parole Board that he had discussed a book with barree about life after death and her desire to learn how life after death. He claimed that it was a factor to kill them.

“That was a lie. That was no reason,” he said during his hearing on April 22nd.

In earlier hearings of the probation officers, Desrosier also apologized to the family and friends of the woman and called himself ruthless and compulsive during the period of murder. He said he was supplied with electricity at the time of murder and did not know why he was doing it.

He initially admitted the lie about the book and the power failure during his hearing of the probation committee in 2020.

“He would no longer hide behind the blackout or life after death,” wrote the decision of 2021.

Nevertheless, the board of directors was of the opinion that he had not focused on the aspect of his crime on the aspect of “sexual violence”, and he was refused probation in 2021.

“Why did I kill Karen barrier?”

“For a long time I had to deal with this question:” Why did I kill Karen barrier? ”

He said he had to go to a therapist to understand what he was doing and why he lied.

“It was a structure of all my failures, failure for a lifetime,” he said, adding later, “I was in a very bad point in my life and had failed after failing in the months before April 16, 1990.”

Before the murder, he spent all his money on alcohol and had to move back to his parents. He was also in a car accident, “and I felt even more useless.” He said his parents would also accuse him of not taking care of his dog.

“This is another failure,” said Desrosier.

He was done with everything by turning alcohol.

On the night of the murder he told the board of the truth that he was sexually unable. That made him angry.

“Here I am, another failure in my life. It wasn't just a failure at that moment, it was not this moment. It was a further failure in my life,” he told the board. “And I didn't want to deal with the consequences of my own feelings. And I really hated who I was back then. I really did it, because I'm not right here.”

Desrosier told the probation helper in front of his parents that his “inner anger broke out into an anger that was aimed at her”, although it was not her fault.

His parents also asked for his release.

“Richard is now 57 years old, not the stupid drunk person he was 35 years ago,” said his father. “He is now a responsible adult and we ask you to see him in this way and to see all the positive things he did and that he will be successful in the liberation.”

Desrosier's parents said they aged and feared that they will not see him released from prison.

“I pray the Almighty God that his probation is granted. We really want to be there when he comes home,” he said.

Opposition against Desrosier probation

The district prosecutor's office of Worcester has a “strong” opposition to the release of Desrosier.

“Lord Desrosier fights to explain why this happened. And this was an act of extreme violence in a sexual context, regardless of whether the deliberate event was barrier who refused to have sex, or Mr. Desrosier's sexual dysfunction. In view of the fact that Mr. Desrosiser has adequately researched the roots of the roots of this not used.

Decision of the probation committee

Desrosier has been sober since July 9, 1993, he told the probation committee. He also completed many programs during his prison period.

He said he was the opposite of the person who came to prison.

“Today I'm honest, compassionate, understanding, respectful, sincere, capable, ready,” he said. “I am the person you want to do because the job is done and it is done properly. I am today. I am reliable.”

A member of the board said: “It is very clear to me that they tried very hard to improve themselves,” added that he was needed by violence, was sober, achieved academic achievements, achieved employment skills and achieved a low risk in all ratings.

“In your opinion, why do you have to fight five hearings with the probation assistant?” The board member asked.

“Because I wasn't honest,” said Desrosier. “I wasn't honest. I wasn't honest with myself.”

The probation helper has not published a decision from May 2. It often takes months for a decision to be made.

But Desrosier does not feel hopeful and says he feels “defeated”.

“I do it. And we'll see you next time. That's how I feel,” he said. “Everything I did mean nothing. Everything I did means nothing.”