Woburn Man Denied Parole In 1992 Fatal Beating

NATICK - A Woburn man was denied parole last month, 24 years after the fatal beating of a homeless man behind a Woburn church.

In Feburary 1994, Bryce Noonan, then 17, of Woburn, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the June 3, 1992 murder of James Margeson, of Woburn. Noonan was given the mandatory sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Noonan, now 41, appeared before the state Parole Board in August 2016 - his third bid for parole - apologizing to Margeson's family and telling the board that he has changed.

In denying his petition for parole, the board noted that after he arrived at prison it took years before he would participate in any rehabilitative programs and he had wracked up more than two dozen disciplinary reports back then.

The board wrote in its Jan. 9 decision that Noonan "has not demonstrated a level of rehabilitative progress that would make his release compatible with the welfare of society, and that he remains a risk to violently re-offend.'

In reviewing the facts of his case, the board noted that Woburn police officer responded at 6:30 a.m. on June 3, 1992 to a report of a dead body in a wooded area along the Middlesex Canal. The body was identified as Margeson, who had suffered multiple injuries to his face, arm and legs.

Noonan, who was 17, and co-defendant Ian Worthen, admitted to killing Margeson by hitting him with rocks and kicking him. Noonan claimed that fighting was his only way of gaining acceptance among his peers.

The day that Margeson was killed, Noonan went behind St. Anthony's Church in Woburn to assault a man who had harassed his girlfriend, but the man never showed. Angry and needing to vent his aggression, Noonan and Worthen decided to drink and hang out with Margeson, who hung out in the woods. Noonan could later claim he could brag about beating up an older man to build his reputation as a "tough guy.''

After some small talk with the two teens - both strangers to Margeson - he got up to leave, so Noonan grabbed a stick and hit Margeson in the head, knocking him into a semi- conscious state. The two boys fled. They returned later on to make sure Margeson was dead and saw him convulsing, so Noonan grabbed a rock and hit him on the head until he was silent. The state Medical Examiner ruled that Margeson died of blunt trauma to the head.

When the board asked Noonan why he committed the murder, he said he was "young and ignorant and tried to make friends by impressing others.'' He had the same mindset when he first entered prison, until 2003 when he "grew up'' and decided he had to take responsibility for his actions, despite years of abuse and violence he suffered as a child.

While in prison, Noonan has earned a high school equivalency degree, participated in rehabilitative programs and has had no "D" reports since 2005. He admits he needs to stay away drugs and alcohol.

But in its decision, the board wrote that Noonan needs "a longer period of positive institutional adjustment and meaningful program.'' In its decision, the board notes that "gravity and severity of his crime.'' And Noonan continues to minimum his role in the murder.

Although he has been locked up for 24 years, he only has 11 years of good conduct which is insufficient for release. Before he is paroled, the board wants a comprehensive parole plan to address his mental health and substance-abuse needs.

The board told Noonan he can repetition for a new parole hearing in four years, as opposed to the normal five years.