Massachusetts

Judge refuses to cut sentence for man convicted of killing 3

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Relatives and friends of the Gustafson family listen as judge Helene Kazanjian goes through the reasoning in resentencing of Danial LaPlante to three consecutive life terms, at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, Mass., Thursday, March 23, 2017. Elizabeth Morgan Gustafson, sister of victim Priscilla Gustafson, is second from left. (Julia Malaki//The Lowell Sun via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Carole Gustafson, left, second wife of Andrew Gustafson, and unidentified woman react in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, Mass., Thursday, March 23, 2017, as Danial LaPlante is resentenced to three consecutive life terms in the 1987 murders of Andrew's first wife Priscilla Gustafson and their children, Abigail and William, in Townsend, Mass.(Julia Malaki//The Lowell Sun via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

Carole Gustafson, left, second wife of Andrew Gustafson, and unidentified woman react in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn, Mass., Thursday, March 23, 2017, as Danial LaPlante is resentenced to three consecutive life terms in the 1987 murders of Andrew's first wife Priscilla Gustafson and their children, Abigail and William, in Townsend, Mass. (Julia Malaki//The Lowell Sun via AP, Pool) (The Associated Press)

A Massachusetts man convicted of killing a pregnant woman and her two children 30 years ago has lost his bid for a shorter sentence.

Daniel LaPlante was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole in the 1987 deaths of 33-year-old Priscilla Gustafson, 7-year-old Abigail and 5-year-old William in Townsend. He was then 17.

His sentence was up for reconsideration because recent court rulings determined that juveniles can't be sentenced to life without parole.

LaPlante was eligible for parole after 15 years for each conviction and he asked that two of his sentences run together, which would have made him eligible for parole this year.

But the judge ruled Thursday he should serve at least 45 years for the crimes so must stay in prison at least another 15 years.