Rochester, Olmsted County (trfnews.i234.me) — David Brom, a man convicted of one of Minnesota’s most notorious murders, has been released from prison after serving decades behind bars.
Brom, who was 16 years old at the time of the crime, brutally murdered his parents and two younger siblings with an axe in their Rochester home in 1988. He was convicted in 1989 and sentenced to multiple life terms.
Brom’s release from Lino Lakes Prison on Tuesday follows significant legal changes regarding juvenile offenders. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles unconstitutional, prompting Minnesota courts to reevaluate past cases.
In 2023, state lawmakers passed legislation allowing parole eligibility for juveniles convicted of violent crimes after 15 years, down from earlier standards. Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) attempted to raise the threshold to 25 years but his amendment failed.
Following Brom’s release, Rasmusson condemned the decision, stating:
“I warned of this exact scenario during the 2023 public safety debate, and it is precisely the kind of outcome I sought to prevent. The Democrats’ soft-on-crime approach has led to dangerous early releases like this one. The release of David Brom is a profound failure of justice and a painful betrayal to the memory of his victims.”
Brom’s case remains one of Minnesota’s most infamous family murder cases, and his release has reignited debate over juvenile sentencing reform in the state.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.