Crime & Safety

Worcester Murderer Gets Life Sentence

A Worcester man was sentenced to life in prison for killing a homeowner during an attempted break-in.

WORCESTER, MA - A Worcester man was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a homeowner during an attempted break-in gone wrong, the Worcester District Attorney said.

At about 3 a.m. on September 18, 2011, Raphael J. Rivera and four alleged accomplices tried to bust into a house on Rodney Street armed with a firearm, the DA said.

Juan Melendez, then 34, arrived home and disrupted the attempted break-in. Melendez was killed in his car, the DA said.

Find out what's happening in Worcesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Rivera was found guilty of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm not at home or work and possession of ammunition without a FID card.

Along with the life sentence, Rivera was also given a concurrent sentence of three years to three years and a day on the firearm and ammunition charges.

Find out what's happening in Worcesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Rivera will be eligible for parole in 15 years, according to the DA.

The four co-defendants are being held without bail while awaiting their trials, the DA said.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.