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by Bob_Ward from Dedham

Last Post 2 days, 14 hours Ago


Entwistle's Life In Prison
Jun 26, 2008 | 9:38 PM
Category: News
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Tonight (Thursday) Neil Entwistle is spending his final night in the Middlesex County House of Correction in Cambridge. Now that he's convicted of murdering his wife, Rachel, and their 9-month-old daughter,  Lillian, Neil Entwistle is set to begin the next -- and last -- phase of his life.

Under state law, people convicted of first-degree murder must serve at least the first two years of their sentence in a maximum security prison.

This is why Friday morning a van will pick up Neil in Cambridge and give him a one-way ride to the town of Shirley, Mass., and to Neil's new home at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center. Despite the non-descript name of the place, this is a maximum security prison.

And if you believe in karma, how about this: Rachel's maiden name was Souza.

Neil will spend his first couple of days in the intake facility at Souza. He'll undergo psychological and physical testing. This is done to determine his classification and it will determine where Neil will live at Souza. Neil was segregated from the general population at the House of Correction; we don't know if he'll still be segregated at Souza.

All of the cells at Souza are 13' x 7.' And they are single cells, so no roommates.

But don't worry about Neil Entwistle ever getting lonely.

As of May 29th, according to the Department of Corrections, there are 904 first-degree murder inmates in Massachusetts serving life no parole sentences, like Neil. I'm told Neil will not be the only young man spending decades behind bars without any hope of getting out.

If that figure of 904 first-degree murder inmates startles you, it startles me too. And if you are wondering, there are 11,000 inmates in the Massachusetts prison system.

In time, as Neil Entwistle ages, he will likely be moved to another facility. Again, he must serve at least two years in max. The state's other max is MCI Cedar Junction, aka Walpole State Prison. It is no day at the beach.

When Neil Entwistle was convicted, and when he was sentenced, Neil displayed no emotion in court. He must have the world's most effective poker face because if I was in his shoes, I'd be terrified. And if I was an innocent man wrongly accused, I'd be fighting to the end.

Tonight, I put together a story about Neil's friends back home in England. They talked about how well liked and mild mannered Neil was when they were all growing up. Neil excelled in math and science. He was tight with his teachers. And his boyhood friends were envious that Neil had made it, that he was starting a new life they could only dream about: a life in America.

Neil Entwistle's life in America, thousands of miles away from anyone who loves or cares about him, will be a nightmare.

And to think none of it had to happen.

What a waste.

Bob Ward

29 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 29
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Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 26, 2008 | 9:57 PM

A nightmare he so richly deserves. I only wish we could return his remains to Great Britain a bit quicker...
Kelldog
Jun 26, 2008 | 10:35 PM

Bob,Just think how much money the state could save if there was the death penalty.It seems unfair that Neil will sit in a cell,getting 3 meals and watching cable t.v..We should have the death penalty,and he should be first in line for it.
Xantun read my blog view my photos
Jun 26, 2008 | 11:38 PM

Kelldog, unfortunately, if we reinstate the death penalty, I doubt it'd be retroactive.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Stick ol' Neil in gen. pop. without a guard and see what happens.
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 27, 2008 | 6:14 AM

Father Goeghan wan't in gen pop was he?
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 7:55 AM

It's to bad someone can't give the guards
a big party one night after dinner and tell
Neil, he's going to have to walk back to his cell by himself.
I wonderhow long it would take before something happened.
Nightengale read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 9:58 AM

FYI..things that go on in a prison are video taped as the cons are going about their business in the cells...we must also remember that prisoners have CORI rights...may seem unfair but that is the way it is...The SB institution is fairly new and camera's are all around the buildings...so anything that happens they pull the tapes...
Death penalty is NOT a answer..let the B--t--rds think about what they did for a whole life-time! Death is far too easy and painless...
hrtofgld04
Jun 27, 2008 | 10:26 AM

What a shame and a waste of life. He didn't even let his daughter have the chance to see what life had to offer. Very sad. He will live in torture for the rest of his life, that will make him wish MA had the death penalty. Only he knows exactly what happened the day his family died and I'm sure he'll relive it always. That's enough for me!
kayleisnana read my blog view my photos
Jun 27, 2008 | 12:20 PM

Bob, those are some pretty staggering numbers--904 convicted first degree murderers? Sad thing is--if Neil wanted to get out of paying child support or alimony, all he had to do was exactly what he did--hop a flight back to the UK-one way-and leave his wife and daughter alive. They would have gotten on with their lives; Rachel would have realized that they would be better off without him, and gone on with her life. She had a very supportive family--they would have helped her in any way they could. He didn't have to kill them to get a way. Instead, he will rot away his remaining natural life in a lifestyle he could never comprehend. His family is thousands of miles away--only to see him, maybe, once a year? If they(he) are lucky!!! So very, very sad!!!!!
jovanone read my blog view my photos
Jun 27, 2008 | 1:08 PM

There are 904 first-degree murder inmates in Massachusetts serving life with no parole sentences, like Neil. These are now the same people who are just like him who are going to determine Neil’s fate when he gets to prison. Garbage in garbage out.
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 1:11 PM

Nightengale,
You said" everything is on camera, and death penalty is not the answer,
My question is this:
DO YOU REALLY THINK ANY OF THESE PRISONERS CARE?
The one's doing life,do you think they care if they hurt or kill someone behind bars?
Look at the guy who killed the priest while he was behind bars?
I forget his name, he gets to court and tells the judge" YEAH I KILLED HIM SO WHAT
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ?"
BONNSUZ
Jun 27, 2008 | 2:28 PM

Living in torture implies that he has a conscience. Anyone that could shoot their own 9 month old daughter at point blank range, obviously doesn't have one.
sirB read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 2:49 PM

904? What's that costing us exactly?

The money could be much better spent elsewhere.
sirB read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 2:59 PM

Like on shiney new electric chairs!

I heard rope don't cost much...
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 3:25 PM

SirB,
Mooring Rope can be found on any dock,
especially after the season ends.
sirB read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 3:30 PM

I say "Hang'em high!"
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 27, 2008 | 3:42 PM

I was listening to a radio station this morning on the way home from work, and they said" We wonder what position Neil will be
playing on the PRISON SOFTBALL TEAM, PITCHER OR CATCHER.
TheWhites
Jun 27, 2008 | 11:18 PM

Its too bad society is so quick to judge. Take a look at it from a different angle. She was depressed, and run down from losing everything she had, from a new baby, and from being in a new place. The new house, car, it was all a front. He knew she was depressed, suicidal, and wanted OUT. She did it, and he has nothing left to live for, so he takes the ultimate punishment to protect the truth. The gun residue was on HER hands, not his. I'm a mother, and its unimaginable. But there is reanable doubt that maybe it wasnt him!
redlolli
Jun 28, 2008 | 2:07 AM

To TheWhites -

If she was so unhappy as the Entwistles speculate why did she make lunch plans with a friend, why did Neil move his family away from her immediate family [family support would be valued], how did she possibly shoot herself on the top of the head,

IF she did indeed commit suicide why didn't Neil call 911 the minute he found the bodies, why was he looking at 'how to kill sites', why did he run home to the UK and not immediately inform the police....WHY BECAUSE HE IS GUILTY!

Neil has to live with his actions!
jaded61
Jun 28, 2008 | 6:39 AM

the Whites: OH come on! reasonable doubt??? I think not the scum bag did it, and then thought we americans were too stupid to get him! It also seems like his mum is a HUGE part of the problem!!!!Let him rot inside!
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 28, 2008 | 7:26 AM

The Whites,


WHAT????????
UNBELIEVABLE, HOW ANYONE COULD THINK SHE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS, ALSO YOU SAY HE WANTS TO TAKE
THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT, TO PROTECT THE TRUTH.

OH HOW FREAKEN NOBLE OF HIM
GOOD GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE IS SIDING WITH
THIS GUY'S MOTHER.
I HAVE KNOWN HUSBANDS AND WIVES WHO ARE DEPRESSED,FROM NOT HAVING ANYTHING,I HAVE KNOWN PEOPLE WHO END THEIR LIVES, HOWEVER
THEIR SPOUSE DOESN'T SIT THERE AND SAY
" GEE MAYBE TO PROTECT THE TRUTH I'LL JUST SIT HERE LIKE A FREAKEN TOAD AND TAKE THE BLAME,
I MEAN WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO LIVE FOR"
UNFREAKEN BELIEVABLE THAT'S ALL IT IS.
IF I EVER DO ANYTHING WRONG I WANT YOU ON MY JURY,BECAUSE I'LL JUST TELL THE JUDGE
"YOUR HONOR IT'S OKAY I'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT
TO LIVE FOR SO I'LL JUST SPEND THE REST OF MY NATURAL LIFE BEHIND BARS"
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Bob_Ward

I am a reporter/anchor specializing in crime and regular features such as New England's Unsolved and Mass Most Wanted.

Member Since: 10/16/2006


 

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