Family fights to keep killer locked up

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) – Relatives of a woman who was stabbed to death 52 times by her estranged husband are set to rally Monday outside Harrington Hall in Cranston, as part of their efforts to keep her killer behind bars.

Parole board members are revisiting the case of Frank Moniz , seven years after they refused to release him when he first appeared before them.

Moniz is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole for the murder of Maryellen Medeiros. He was convicted of killing the 24-year-old inside her Pawtucket apartment in 1990.

Relatives of Medeiros say they’re upset Moniz is eligible for parole again, and that he blamed the killing on an epileptic seizure.

The victim's sisters hope he gets denied parole again.

"Is he going to do the same thing?" asked Katherine Lescault.

The Medeiros sisters said they are bringing a petition to the protest Monday that they hope will push home their point and keep Moniz behind bars.

Moniz’s lawyer said his client has worked to rehabilitate himself and the Medeiros family has nothing to fear from him.