A convicted murderer who beat his pregnant wife to death in front of her 5-year-old boy was one of the illegal immigrants grabbed by ICE in the Boston area sweep last week.
The Dominican national was paroled in December while serving just 17 years of a life sentence, according to the Massachusetts Parole Board.
The Parole Board ruled that Cesar Polanco, 59, of Lawrence, should be set free because, they wrote, “Mr. Polanco’s adjustment has been positive” and he “expressed remorse for his actions and reminded the Board that he called the police himself” after beating his wife to death.
The “facts of the case” state Polanco hit his wife so violently in front of the young child that she “sustained massive facial injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.” She was one month pregnant, the board added.
Still, he was paroled Dec. 4 on a “home plan.”
That plan states, in part, that “Mr. Polanco has a significant support system in the United States and Dominican Republic. The Board considered the support of Mr. Polanco’s sister, daughter, and friend,” the Parole Board added before they “approved” his release where he had to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
The Herald has not received a response from the Parole Board yet. His two-page parole report states in brief “ICE detainer.” It is not clear if ICE was or was not contacted. The Herald has also put out a call to ICE.
Media reports state Polanco was living in Boston when immigration agents tracked him down last week.
He had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder of his 25-year-old wife in 2007 and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. His first attempt at parole was denied in 2021, but in the second attempt he was represented by a Harvard PLAP student attorney “under the supervision” of another attorney, the board wrote.
The Harvard PLAP program is a Prison Legal Assistance Project that helps second-degree murder convicts seek their freedom.
The PLAP mission statement includes: “At PLAP, our mission is to empower people incarcerated in Massachusetts; to train law students in client-based advocacy and instill in them a commitment to public interest and social justice; and to participate in conversations about incarceration and engage in efforts to promote the rights of incarcerated people.”
The Herald was told to “call back tomorrow” to contact the Harvard PLAP supervising attorneys. An email was also sent to them asking how they deal with ICE, or don’t deal with immigration officers.
The Parole Board summary of the slaying added that Polanco, 41 at the time, argued with his wife over “going out to drink” on the night of Oct. 26, 2006. They lived in an apartment in Lawrence with their 16-month-old daughter and a 5-year-old boy from her “previous relationship” when the “argument turned physical.”
That’s when he admitted he “beat (redacted) to death.” The board added, “the son witnessed Mr. Polance bearing his mother.”
The Essex DA’s office was at the parole hearing “in opposition.” The Herald has put in a call to that office.
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