Convicted rapist released on medical parole

A convicted rapist who has long claimed his innocence is now out of prison after being released on medical parole.

Benjamin LaGuer was sentenced to life in prison in 1984 but because he has terminal cancer, he was granted parole. The victim’s family spoke exclusively to Boston 25′s Bob Ward and told him they’re angry and frustrated.

“It was gut-wrenching. I was very surprised, very taken aback. Couldn’t really believe what I was hearing,” said Robert Barry, the victim’s son-in-law.

Barry found out Friday that the man convicted of brutally raping his mother-in-law in 1983 was getting out of prison.

“It was a total shock. I just don’t understand what happened in this process,” Barry told Ward.

LaGuer is now a registered Level 3 sex offender. Ward tried to talk to him Thursday at the Danvers home where he told the Sex Offender Registry he is living, but no one answered the door.

In court filings, LaGuer’s attorney claimed he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Barry has his doubts because he says he and his family were kept in the dark as LaGuer’s fate was being considered.

“I have mixed reports about his medical condition and that bothers me, it bothers me a great deal. I don’t trust him,” Barry said.

LaGuer’s family has always claimed he didn’t do it and was wrongly convicted but the victim’s family never had a double about LaGuer’s guilt.

“As far as I’m concerned, she was a hero. She testified in Superior Court identified him, no matter what anyone else wants to say, he raped and beat her, tied her up and left her for dead after 8 hours,” said Barry.

Behind bars, LaGuer enlisted the support of powerful people, including former governor and now-Democratic presidential candidate Deval Patrick, who donated money to LaGuer’s case.

Much of that support, however, seemed to vanish once DNA testing implicated LaGuer.

But now, he is free.

Barry told Ward he wants the process for medical parole released opened up to the public.

“I would not want to see this situation happen again to another family with this medical release parole program,” he said.

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