An Allegany County man convicted of killing his parents when he was a teenager says he was physically and mentally abused by both his mom and dad, and he is asking a judge to make him eligible for a lighter sentence.
William Larson Jr. pleaded guilty in 2022 to second-degree murder for killing his mother, 50-year-old Lisa Larson, and to first-degree manslaughter for the death of his father, William Larson Sr., 67.
Both were killed in 2019 on Larson family property in the Allegany County town of Clarksville.
New York State Police said Larson, who was 17 at the time, shot and stabbed his parents in the driveway at 8472 Courtney Hollow Road on Nov. 5, 2019.
Investigators said Larson left his parents' bodies outside for several weeks before bringing them into the residence and starting a fire in the basement of the home.
The blaze led to the discovery of the victims by first responders and to Larson’s arrest on Nov. 21, 2019.
Autopsy reports indicated William Larson Sr. and Lisa Larson each suffered a gunshot wound and multiple stab wounds.
The prosecution has been handled by Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker, who stepped in because the Allegany County DA's Office had a staffing shortage when the case came up.
A second-degree murder conviction can carry up to a life sentence and calls for a minimum of 15-40 years in prison. Larson, held in custody since his arrest, has not been sentenced, as his lawyer seeks to prove he was a victim of domestic abuse.
Under New York Penal law 6012 defendants can get a reduced sentence if they are victims of domestic violence and subjected to "substantial physical, sexual or psychological abuse by a member of the same family or household."
Defense attorney: Parents abused drugs, were violent toward son
Larson's attorney, Dominic H. Saraceno, said the evidence shows Larson was "physically and mentally abused" by both of his parents.
"His dad was a drug addict and drug dealer, who also had mental health issues," Saraceno said. "(His dad) would make him (as a pre-teenager) cut wood 12 hours a day in the winter. His dad also shot him in the foot with buckshot. That is another example of abuse that came out at the hearing. There was regular physical abuse (from) his father toward him."
Saraceno said Lisa Larson smoked marijuana and drank alcohol every day.
“His mother was not as bad, but she was also abusive," said Saraceno. "It came out that she would put cigarettes out on his arms."
Larson must prove by a "preponderance of the evidence" that the abuse took place and that it had a connection to the crimes, according to the text of the law.
The decision rests with Allegany County Court Judge Terrence M. Parker. Three days of hearings earlier this year before Parker produced more than 800 pages of transcripts and included medical records and expert testimony from doctors on both sides of the issue.
Larson testified, as did friends and relatives of Lisa Larson and neighbors of the family in Clarksville, the attorneys said.
Baker: Defendant is only source for most of the abuse allegations
Baker said Larson has a history of giving conflicting statements to authorities.
According to officials, Larson at one point told State Police that his father shot his mother and later threw a knife at him before he shot his father.
"He told the police that this was not about domestic violence, not about being abused by his parents. When it came to this hearing, he changed his story," Baker said.
Baker questioned the truthfulness of Larson's domestic violence claims, noting, "he claimed to have been burned by cigarettes over a thousand times yet could only attribute a couple of scars he said were associated with that.”
Baker said "two very different versions" of life in the Larson household were described by witnesses, with most of the abuse allegations coming from Larson himself.
“Our witnesses testified to being around the family a lot and never seeing any physical abuse directed at the defendant. One of our witnesses testified that the parents were protective," Baker said.
Baker said some of the character jibes at the parents are beside the point.
“There were attacks by defense counsel, essentially trying to vilify both victims in this case. Our witnesses did not substantiate most of that stuff," Baker said. “Dealing drugs and smoking pot were not really relevant."
Allegany County business 'I just wanted to pretty up the area': Allegany County couple offer u-pick flower blooms
Judge's ruling could come in next 60 days
The judge received the last post-hearing memorandum around July 9, according to a court official, and a decision could be released within 60 days.
If Parker rules Larson is eligible for relief under the 6012 statute, “It would provide a substantially lower sentence than what he is otherwise looking at," Saraceno said. "If he is not eligible, he is facing 15 years to life. If he is successful, we can get the life taken off the back end.”
Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account tod ay.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Allegany County man who killed parents claims abuse, seeks lighter sentence: Court update
Most Popular
Comments / 0