Minnesota’s Axe Murderer Goes Free
In Minnesota, “second chances” now carry a chilling new meaning.
Governor Tim Walz, in 2023, signed sweeping criminal justice reform that abolished life without parole for juvenile offenders and applied it retroactively. On the surface, it's compassion—citing developmental science and the possibility of rehabilitation. In practice? It just freed one of the state’s most notorious mass murderers.
The Case That Shook Minnesota
In 1988, at age 16, David Brom murdered his parents, 14‑year‑old sister, and 11‑year‑old brother with an axe. The brutality shocked even seasoned law enforcement. Brom received three consecutive life sentences. For decades, Minnesotans believed he’d never leave prison.
The Law That Changed Everything
The 2023 law ended life without parole for anyone under 18, allowing eligibility for supervised release after just 15 years. Crucially, it applied to cases already decades old. After serving more than 35 years, Brom walked free last week—not because of new evidence or innocence, but because the rules changed.house.mn.gov+1The Sentencing ProjectNewsCut+1KARE 11+2Newsroom | University of St. Thomas+2
The Republican Backlash
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer didn’t hold back:
“Once again, Tim Walz proves why he is one of the worst governors in the country… his soft‑on‑crime policies rob victims of the justice they deserve, and put every Minnesotan at risk.”
Public shock ran deep. “Reform” turned into “release the axe murderer”—and no one saw it coming.
The Dangerous Precedent
This isn’t just about Brom. Legislative sponsors confirmed that 97 juvenile offenders in Minnesota serving sentences over 15 years are now eligible for review, with about 40 already having served enough time to qualify.house.mn.gov+1
Not Just Brom: Who Else Is Affected?
Brom’s case is just the most infamous. Under the new law, 97 Minnesota inmates who were sentenced as juveniles to life or decades-long terms are now eligible for review. Roughly 40 of them have already served enough time to qualify for a supervised release hearing.
One of those cases is Tony Roman Nose, who was 17 when he raped and stabbed a young woman to death in 2000. Another is Mahdi Hassan Ali, convicted of killing three people during the 2010 Seward Market shootings in Minneapolis. Ali is serving consecutive life terms and won’t be eligible for decades — but under the old law, his sentence would have guaranteed he’d never be released at all.
Beyond these names are dozens of others: offenders convicted of murders, sexual assaults, and armed robberies — all committed before they turned 18. Their cases vary in detail, but the bottom line is the same: the law now offers a door back into society, no matter how horrific the original crime.
The Dangerous Precedent
Supporters of the law talk about “restorative justice” and the science of adolescent development. But there’s a difference between a second chance and a second victim. Walz’s law doesn’t just blur that line — it erases it.
Final Cut
In today’s Minnesota, victims’ voices fade the moment political virtue points are at stake. Walz didn’t just give an axe murderer a shot at freedom — he’s given dozens of violent offenders the same opportunity. Minnesota is now a state of second chances. The question is, how many second chances will it take before we face a second tragedy?
