Murder of Marie Belcastro

Murder of Marie Belcastro
DateMarch 31, 2015
LocationNiles, Ohio
Deaths1
ConvictedJacob Larosa
ConvictionsAggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, attempted rape, and aggravated murder
SentenceLife in prison without parole later reduced by Senate Bill 256 to life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years

On March 31, 2015, Marie Belcastro, aged 94, was murdered in her Niles, Ohio home by Jacob Larosa, her 15-year-old neighbor. Larosa, who had numerous prior cases in juvenile court, had been released from a juvenile detention facility hours before. He broke into Belcastro’s residence, and, using a MAG flashlight, beat her to death. Larosa also attempted to rape Belcastro.[1][2][3][4] In 2018, Larosa pleaded no contest to charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, attempted rape, and aggravated murder. Later that year, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[1][5][6] In 2021, a new Ohio law, Senate Bill 256, retroactively reduced his sentence, making him eligible for parole after 25 years. The change to Larosa’s sentence has led to controversy and calls for changes to Senate Bill 256.[7][8] As of 2022, Larosa’s parole hearing is scheduled for 2040.[9]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference “:3” was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  4. ^ Mitchell, J. (October 12, 2018). "Judge sentences Jacob Larosa in grisly death of elderly Niles woman". WFMJ-TV.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference “:17” was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Ohio teen pleads no contest to slaying of 94-year-old woman February 14, 2018 Columbus Dispatch". Columbus Dispatch. February 14, 2018.
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