WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ... Middleboro man charged with killing his parents

Cody Shepard, The Enterprise

July 10, 2024 at 5:02 AM·4 min read

In December 2020, law enforcement officials descended upon a typically quiet residential neighborhood on Highland Street in Middleboro.

What began as a simple health and welfare check for Middleboro police turned into a "horrific and tragic situation," according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz, when a man and woman were found dead inside the 3 Highland St. home.

A 21-year-old man, Ryan True, was later charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of his parents, David True, 52, and Renee True, 55.

Years later, the case is still pending in Plymouth County Superior Court.

Here's what we know.

Ryan True, 21, of Middleboro, is arraigned in Wareham District Court on two counts of murder, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, in connection with the deaths of his parents David True, 52, and Renee True, 55, inside their Highland Street home in Middleboro on Wednesday. They were found dead on Thursday morning.

WHO IT IS …

Ryan True was arrested on Dec. 10, 2020, after Middleboro police responded earlier that morning to 3 Highland St. for a health and welfare check. The boss of resident David True called police because he didn't show up for work, which the boss said was unlike him. Police weren't able to get the attention of anyone inside the home and a sergeant decided to force entry about an hour later after learning David True's wife, Renee True, also didn't show up for work.

Detectives were immediately summoned to the home after police located the husband and wife dead inside the house. Ryan True, the couple's son, who also resided at the house, was arrested a short time after the incident after police learned one of the vehicles registered to the home — a gray Kia Sorrento SUV — was missing. Detective Sgt. Simmone Ryder made contact with Ryan True, who was driving the vehicle, shortly after 8 a.m. and learned he was still in the area. A Middleboro police officer located the SUV, which Ryan True was still driving, on Marion Road at 8:08 a.m. Police say Ryan True agreed to drive back toward the home and was taken into custody a short distance from the home at 8:14 a.m.

'It's like she never mattered' Brockton daughter is looking for answers in mother's murder

LAST WE HEARD …

At his arraignment, a prosecutor said Ryan True had told his half-brother that his father was drunk and came into a room where he was playing video games "to harass him." The brother also told police that Ryan True had been having "a tough time" with his parents and refused to take medication. But in his account to police, Ryan True said that on Wednesday evening, the night before his parents' bodies were discovered, he and his father got into an argument and he took out a pocket knife to defend himself. His mother came into the house a short while later and he stabbed her, too, he allegedly told police. Police said there was no evidence that Ryan True's injuries were the result of self-defense. Ryan True was held without bail following his arraignment and sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?

Ryan True was later indicted by a Plymouth County grand jury on two counts of murder. Following an evaluation, he was deemed incompetent to stand trial and committed again to Bridgewater State Hospital. Ryan True has remained hospitalized and is still deemed incompetent to stand trial. His last court appearance was on Dec. 5, 2023, and the prosecution and defense agreed to continue to case until Sept. 16, 2024, for a pre-trial conference. A jury trial is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 7, 2024, if Ryan True is deemed competent to stand trial by then. According to Massachusetts law, the trial of a case shall be stayed until a defendant becomes competent to stand trial or the case is dismissed.

Free speech or hate speech? Middleboro student who wore 'only two genders' T-shirt loses court appeal. What's next?