Parole denied for Mass. man who killed his wife, then pretended to help find her
About 40 years ago, a married Massachusetts couple went to a Halloween party. It was the last time 18-year-old Anna Foster was seen.
Her husband joined in on search efforts. Nearly three years later, he was convicted for her murder.
Earlier this month, he was denied parole for the sixth time.
Michael Foster was convicted of murder in the second degree for the death of his wife, Anna Foster, on Aug. 14, 1989 in Norfolk Superior Court. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Michael Foster was 22 when he strangled his wife, tied her body with a clothesline and put her body in a nearby pond in an attempt to conceal the crime, the parole board said. Foster then joined in efforts to try and find his wife.
On Dec. 20, 1986, Anna Foster's body was found in a pond in Wrentham.
Michael Foster fled to Florida. While there, he was convicted of several other offenses, including battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct and grand theft (stealing an automobile). He was returned to Massachusetts in 1989 to face the murder charge.
He first went in front of the parole board in 2004.
After his Jan. 30 parole board hearing, the parole board denied parole for the 60-year-old with a review in two years.
Officials said he has a lengthy history of disciplinary reports, but has stayed out of trouble since 2017. He received his GED in 1991. Since his last hearing in 2023, he has completed 24 programs, including Alternative to Violence, Jericho Circle, Restorative Justice Retreat and the Family Violence Education Group.
He remained sober for nearly 30 years. However, he has prior substance misuse.
Four of Anna Foster's family members spoke in opposition to parole. Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Laura McLaughlin also spoke in opposition to parole.
The Board states that Michael Foster continues to minimize his pattern of domestic violence. It also stated that the programming he has been engaged in has mostly been recent and finds a lengthier period of reflection and rehabilitation is needed.
After 41 years, Mass. man to leave prison for crime he committed when he was a teen
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