Massachusetts Parole Board grants Kevin Denis parole in 1994 Dorchester teen killing after court ruling
Parole decision follows shift in Massachusetts sentencing law for “emerging adults”
A man convicted of first-degree murder in the 1994 shooting death of 17-year-old Diron Spence in Dorchester has been granted parole from a life sentence, reflecting a major change in Massachusetts law governing people sentenced for killings committed at ages 18 to 20.
Records show the Massachusetts Parole Board voted 4-1 to grant parole to Kevin Denis, now 49, who was 18 at the time of the killing. The board’s written ruling dated Jan. 12, 2026, ordered that Denis be released to a halfway house within two weeks of the decision, subject to a set of conditions.
What the board’s ruling describes about the 1994 shooting
The ruling recounts that the shooting occurred on Aug. 19, 1994, near the corner of McLellan and Bradshaw streets. Denis approached Spence while Spence was with a friend and demanded money. As Spence’s friend began emptying his pockets, Spence remained in place. The decision states Denis then produced a .357 Magnum revolver and fired at close range, with additional shots following. Spence was struck multiple times and died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Denis was convicted in 1996 of first-degree murder in Spence’s death. He was also convicted on related firearms and assault charges, with additional prison terms imposed alongside the life sentence.
Why Denis became eligible for parole in 2024
First-degree murder in Massachusetts has historically carried a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Denis’s parole eligibility changed after a January 2024 decision by the Supreme Judicial Court that barred mandatory life-without-parole sentences for people who were 18, 19, or 20 when they committed first-degree murder. The ruling applied retroactively, opening a parole path for individuals sentenced under the prior framework after they served the minimum required time.
Factors cited by the Parole Board and conditions of release
The board credited Denis with extensive participation in programming while incarcerated, including completing roughly 80 programs and earning a bachelor’s degree through Boston University. The ruling also described a limited disciplinary record in prison, involvement in restorative justice efforts, and a reentry plan supported by community ties.
The board said it considered opposition presented at the hearing, including testimony from a Suffolk County prosecutor and statements from Spence’s relatives.
- Electronic monitoring for six months
- Drug and alcohol abstinence and testing requirements
- No contact with the victim’s family
- Mental health counseling, including treatment addressing PTSD and autism spectrum disorder
The parole order requires a structured transition through a halfway house and compliance with supervision conditions intended to reduce reoffending risk during reentry.
As of Jan. 20, 2026, Denis remained incarcerated at MCI-Norfolk while release arrangements proceeded under the board’s decision.