What Do We Do with David?
Thanks to Denise who suggested looking at this case
On October 3, 1989, a Rochester, Minnesota, jury gave David Brom an unwelcome 18th birthday present: it convicted him of four counts of first-degree murder. A week later, the same jury rejected Brom’s claim that he was insane when he used a 56 blows with an axe to murder his father, mother, and two siblings.
He was subsequently sentenced to three consecutive life terms (and one concurrent life term) and will be eligible for parole when he turns 70. After his sentencing, the judge reportedly retired to her chambers and wept over the tragedy of the crimes and David’s wasted life.
While extremely violent, David’s crime is not that extraordinary. What is interesting is the dual legal issues that he raised: that crimes committed by a 16-year-old do not deserve to tried in an adult court, and that Minnesota’s M’Naghten-based insanity defense is out of touch with reality and unfair to defendants who are mentally ill when they commit their crimes.
Medical records and testimony at his trial indicated that David was severely depressed at the time of his crime. A Catholic prep school sophomore, David had twice attempted suicide (the last attempt was just a few months prior to the murders), and friends reported that he talked for six months about killing his family.
For reasons never fully explained, that time came on February 18, 1988. In a gruesome crime scene, Cascade Township police who had been summoned to the home found bodies of Bernard Brom, 41, his wife, Paullette, about 40, and children Diane, 14, and Rick, 9, all in their nightclothes. The four were believed to have been slaughtered early that morning. A bloody axe was found in the basement of the home. Authorities theorized that Bernard and Rick had been attacked first, and the women coming to investigate were subsequently struck down.
The only member of the household not killed — there was another brother who did not live at home — was David Brom and he was nowhere to be found.
The elder brother had an alibi, and David’s palm prints were lifted from the murder weapon.
David was arrested the next day while telephoning a friend from a pay phone at a post office. He admitted the crimes and explained that he was “having trouble with his father” over a music tape.
(About the same time, the San Francisco-based punk band Negativland took advantage of the intense media scrutiny of the case and claimed its song, “Christianity is Stupid” was at the center of David’s dispute with his father. The band’s specious release turned out to be a “a simplistic narrative that [would] suck the media in.”
David’s case, however, continues to attract out-of-the-mainstream bands.)
Which Court Has Jurisdiction?
The first issue David Brom and his attorneys had to face was a motion by the prosecutor to move the case out of the juvenile system into adult court. At the time this case was brought to the court, precedent was much more restrictive about what cases could be removed from juvenile court.
In order to refer a child for adult prosecution, Minnesota law required the trial court to find probable cause “to believe the child committed the offenses alleged in the delinquency petition” and a demonstration by “clear and convincing evidence that the child is not suitable to treatment or that the public safety is not served under the provisions of law relating to juvenile courts.”
The judge hearing the state’s argument that such a heinous crime deserved adult punishment ruled that “incredibly” the statute as applied to the Brom murders precluded moving David’s case to adult court.
Judge Gerard Ring said that David didn’t have any criminal record and that psychiatric testing showed “little, if any, basis” to send him to adult court. However, Ring made his decision reluctantly, noting that he was powerless to decide otherwise and that David’s punishment for four murders would be quite minimal.
“It does not make sense that any person, if convicted of the crimes alleged in this case, should serve a sentence of less than three years,” he said. “However, the Legislature has not vested absolute discretion in me as a trial judge to decide this issue based on what my own feeling of justice should be.”
The State appealed Ring’s decision and on October 8, 1988, the Court of Appeals revered Ring’s ruling and ordered David’s case to be tried in adult court. It based its decision on a different interpretation of the 1980 law that was passed in reaction to a similar case where a child-murderer was tried in juvenile court — much to the outrage of the Legislature and its constituents.
The result was a statute that reflected a shift in attitude regarding punishment as a goal of juvenile courts.
“Prior to the amendments the stated purpose of those courts was to secure care and guidance, and to serve the welfare of the minor child,” the appeals court wrote. “(Now,) for youths charged with the commission of a crime, a more punitive approach is emphasized, and as to them the juvenile court operates to promote the public safety and reduce juvenile delinquency by maintaining the integrity of the substantive law prohibiting certain behavior and by developing individual responsibility for lawful behavior.”
A particular section of the law directly addressed David’s situation. According to statute, “a prima facie case that the public safety is not served or that the child is not suitable for treatment shall have been established if the child was at least 16 years of age at the time of the alleged offense and …(I)s alleged by delinquency petition to have committed murder in the first degree…”
The appeals court found that public safety would not be served if David’s case was heard in juvenile court.
“We conclude that the legislature intended to protect the strong and legitimate interest of the public in a fair response by the criminal justice system to a heinous crime,” the judges wrote. “There can be no doubt that the offenses here are heinous and that the only fair response of the criminal justice system, as a matter of law, must be referral.”
Next: Why the courts found that David Brom was not insane
Shameless Self-Promotion
I think he should be treated and releases.
Comment by scott — 11/11/2006 @ 1:08 am
I think what he did was wrong but he should be in saint peter state hospital instead. He
should be given a second chance. I think the system failed him. I had parents like his,
and i can relate. I had been seriously depressed and untreated. I was lucky enough to not
have done what he did, but i did go to Red Wing, ICF-RW 3 times.
He needs meds, counseling and love.
Comment by scott — 11/11/2006 @ 1:11 am
David’s Brother, do you visit or write your brother?
Comment by scott — 11/11/2006 @ 1:14 am
Fix the third paragraph -> Richard and Rick…
fix wikipedia entry too
My opinion… yeah he had problems. But he extinguished four lives, and that is the bottom line. What about young Rick and Diane? They should be be here, enjoying life. Perhaps they would have their own children. But they were murdered in the middle of the night ~20 years ago. I have not slept well since.
David has done nothing positive for society, at least that I know of.
Yeah, maybe he needs counseling and meds. But now so does anyone who knew knew the Brom family while they were alive.
TODAY’S LESSON-> listen when your children speak.
Comment by mm — 12/15/2006 @ 3:49 am
I grew up in St. Charles, 20 minutes away from Rochester when the Brom murders took place. I remember there was much speculation revolving around his older brother and a satanic cult. Reading all the entries, I find nothing about his older brother. Was this all a farce, or is there something ou there that the media doesn’t want to associate with this?
Comment by Jae McCready — 1/1/2007 @ 1:48 pm
I lived a mile from the family house, i rode the same bus as David (though we went to different schools) and i knew his brother Joe. Joe had nothing to do with the crime. He had been kicked out of the house by the father, david idolized Joe, and David’s interest in the same alt/punk music was a big factor. This is a sad story. I feel bad for the lost family, but David is a sympathetic offender. Dad was a rigid physical disciplanarian that kicked his brother out of the house. David and his dad had the same dynamo, and were headed down the same road. I always believed that killing the mom and siblings were mercy killings, so they didn’t have to suffer the loss of Bernie. He went into his parents room, got dad first, caught mom with his sister at the top of the stairs, and then into the brothers room. He tried to hang himself from a tree in the backyard shortly before the crime, but it didn’t work. His failure at suicide pushed him into a greater depression, in that he couldn’t even succed in taking his own life. This was devestating to the rochester community and i can remember the night i heard the news on the tv about what had happened. The house sold for a fraction of it’s value because of it’s history. Shocking story, but something that really could have happend in any other family or house anywhere. He acted on a fantasy that had been cooking for several months.All of the stars aligned so that it happened at the brom house.
Comment by anon — 1/20/2007 @ 7:33 pm
I was only 10 years old in 1988, but the Brom case was the first
true-crime story that ever caught my attention and led to a life-
long fascination with the subject. I was born and raised in Minne-
apolis and clearly remember reading a Star Tribune article(then publishing
under a different name, I think) about the case with a photo of the
Brom family on the front page of the section. He was a freckle-
faced, smiling boy who looked so normal, so nice. I recall reading
something about him claiming to have been taken over by an alter-
ego/alternate personality named “Justin Time”. I, too always won-
dered what became of the fate of Joseph Brom. Does he or any other
family member (extended, obviously) visit or contact David? Has any-
one here ever attempted to contact him? I’ve never considered con-
tacting any prison inmate for any reason in my life at any time…
-except for David Brom. I haven’t, but I’m always tempted. I don’t
know why he seems so sympathetic but like Scott posted above, I feel
he was not unlike a lot of troubled teens. He just didn’t get the
help he clearly had been needing for some time and he finally snap-
ped. I think if he’d been born a decade later people would have done
something after the first suicide attempt, maybe sooner, and the whole
tragedy could have been prevented.
As far as the house goes, ANON; are you referring to it’s resale im-
mediately following the murders or more recently? Does anyone know
the actual address in Rochester?
Comment by hollowmoll — 3/27/2007 @ 2:36 pm
Two comments. One, why would any of you think that this guy’s brother has nothing better to do than search the internet for this information. Don’t you think that after 20 yearss this guy has probably moved on? Two, don’t you think that much of this rumored information is probably incorrect?
Comment by John — 4/18/2007 @ 7:28 am
I remember this event clearly. I have lived in Rochester, Mn. since I was seven. I am now 32. I was 13, nearly 14 when this happend.
I attended St. Francis, a catholic school. His siblings went to St. Pius. I remember seeing David at the local
jail on a ‘class trip’. I think what he did is sick and he deserves his punishment. I also think it’s a tragedy
that nobody spoke up about David’s plans to kill his family. The article said that he had been contemplating this
for months. Just goes to show that if you ever hear a child speaking of such acts to take it seriously. If someone
had taken him seriously this whole tragedy would never have happened. By the way, Rochester is NOT a highly religious,
small town at all. I also don’t believe that his parents were overly religious. I think David was disturbed and
needed to be instutionalized.
Comment by Amy — 4/28/2007 @ 10:43 am
Well, I have read all these comments, and I do not know what to think. I was a friend of Diane’s since 1st grade. we went to school together, and were together up until the night before it happened. I can tell you it is the worst thing to go through, and I would never wish it on anyone. When I said that I saw Diane up until that last day, I saw David as well,, he gave me a ride home that day. I can tell everyone that I never saw it coming. I am going to set the record straight on a couple of things. The family, the whole family were wonderful people. I had many wonderful times at their house. They were strick parents, but the family did not have to go to church everyday. Yes, Joe had his issues, and when david starting having his “teenage issues” everyone thought he would just leave the house and go live with Joe. This whole thing was a complete shock. I am 33 and I miss my friend dearly, and it alwalys seems like it just happened yesterday. It changed mine and my friends lives forever.
Comment by anon — 4/30/2007 @ 8:50 pm
Does anyone know where the address of the Brom house?
Comment by kathy — 5/23/2007 @ 8:19 am
I’m 15, almost 16. I’ve read a lot about this because im really fascinated with it. Its Rochester, nothing ever happens. But this town has more. My uncle was friends with Joe at the time going to Lourdes. And he told me stories about this before. My friend lives at the home right now. Shes my age too. Shes told me stories.. but I’ve been outside the house but not in. But on what my uncle told me, Joe moved to New York. My uncle was also in the court room when it happened during the trial. It’s so strange that so many ppl know and dont know about what had happened. But i understand that ppl dont want to bring it up in anyway anymore. A huge shock, tragedy. I just don’t know what to say or think. I am scared just the thought of it, because its i Rochester. You hear things like this, but not here. Not your little town. It’s so surreal, i wasnt even born at the time. I could not imagine being around that time, how shocked. All i want to do, is learn more. Makes me want to watch out for my friends more. I don’t know if david is mentally ill or anything. It was a choice he made. And for the choice he made he was punished. I wish the best for everyone connected to this in anyway.
Comment by Stephan — 6/14/2007 @ 4:26 am
i do know the address of the house. but im questioning if its alright to give out
Comment by Stephan — 6/14/2007 @ 4:31 am
I know where Joe presently resides, and althogh I do not know the man very well, a few things are evident: Joe has moved on and established a life as far removed from this matter as is possible; he does not discuss his brother or the events of that night with even very close friends; and, as I believe most of would, he and his loved ones need and deserve their privacy and their right to live their lives apart from the speculation of the Brom case.
Comment by Pat — 7/5/2007 @ 4:27 pm
I grew up in Stewartville, MN and remember the Brom murders very well. I was 11 years old at the time. My aunt was friends with the Brom family and I do know the physical address of the home in Northwest Rochester. Not sure if it is ok to list the address so I am not going to. I will say it is a two story home on a wooded lot probably a couple of acres. If I am not mistaken the exterior of the home is the same color that it was 20 years ago. I also know were the family is buried.
Comment by Justin — 12/2/2007 @ 12:49 pm
Friend in my neighborhood went to school with this guy at Lourdes. Kid in a strict enviornment going bad, stealing from the church offerings stuff like that. Lot of people grow up in strict homes, our country was founded on disciplined church people raising their kids up firmly, more to it than that don’t be naive. This thing really messed up our little quiet town. Also had a buddy that worked for the mortician that made the call and to pick up the bodies. Worst thing he’s ever seen, feet at the top of the stairs, blood thru the ceiling, defense wounds from axes coming down on the the little girls arms. There was no mercy killings. I don’t know how that house sold regardless of price, should have leveled it. This thing was sinister and satanic based.
Comment by John — 12/21/2007 @ 1:32 am
I was wondering what happened to this man and this story. I was the same age as David when this story broke, so it was always very frightening and captivating. This is such a tragic, horrible crime. At first, I couldn’t remember the guy’s last name. But subsequent searches led me here. (And on a side note: Another cold-crime murderer from MN is named David Brom. He killed Katie Poirier near Moose Lake, MN) The trouble with this case for me, is how could he go after the other family members? Was it that he didn’t want to see his siblings orphaned? But look what we have here now. A man sitting in a cell with (I’m certain) excruciating memories of offing his brother and sister. ….And a brother and sister who never received the chance at life beyond their short years. Despite the rage and animosity with the parents, they shouldn’t have been killed either. It’s sad when psycho-christians maintain such a hold on their offspring that they loose sight of what is *supposedly* christian. Sadly, David should have just up and packed up a car and driven the hell away from the hell he was enduring. But he took the wrong fork, so to speak.
Comment by anonymous — 1/21/2008 @ 9:17 pm
Donald Blom, you numbnut, kidnapped and killed Katie Poirer…at least have the decency to research the woman’s killer’s name…
Comment by Jack Spratsky — 2/1/2008 @ 1:33 am
I was 10 when this happened. I’d just moved to Rochester from a small town. I was shocked and fascinated by this whole thing. I remember reading the articles in the paper, the maps of the inside of the house, where witch bodies were found, and how many times he hit each person with the ax. He hit his dad the most, a lot of it in the head. The messed up part is the kids. his brother was laying in bed when he was killed. His sister was at the top of the stairs, holding her dead mothers body when she was killed. That’s what i remember from the articles 20 years ago.
totally messed up situation. I would like to see some old articles posted so that people can see the whole story and the details don’t get lost in a sea of old stories and rumors. It’s important to remember such things so that we can learn from them, and realize that this sort of thing can happen in our town and to our loved ones.
It’s important to communicate with your kids and, while still being a parent, be a friend.
Comment by rob — 2/2/2008 @ 3:07 am
The address is in public records…so there is nothing wrong with giving out the address.
Comment by Pink — 2/21/2008 @ 12:32 am
It has been 20 years since this tagic event, and I remember what I was doing when the news broke. I had recently lost my fiancee 1 month prior and just returned to my job at Perkins. I was working the night shift and the policemen that responded to the murder scene, gathered at the restaurant. I knew right away that something very bad had happened because it wasn’t the usual greetings and smiles. I will never forget the sobs from these grown men and I could not imagine what kind of monster or monsters could have done this crime. I hope that everyone who is reading this and is a parent or is a disterbed child can see that we should love our children and listen when they are trying to tell us something, the first suicide attempt should have been the signal to the parents that something was wrong. The older brother Joe had been comitted to St. Mary’s Physciatric ward prior to the murders so there was a family history of mental illness. Just a guess, they got the gene from the father, since most of the hostility was aimed towards him. I will never understand this crime, but hope if any of you see the sign you get the help you need right away. I hope that David relives what he did every day of his incarserated life, and imagines how his life could have been if he had just found the right friend to talk to and they would have helped. I’m sure The Brom Family was like yours and mine, and we should not speculate nor judge. Just learn and remember all the important lessons in our lifetime, because we will have to answer in the end. Love always wins.
Comment by cmo — 2/21/2008 @ 2:35 pm
After reading all of the comments, everyone seems to know what went on that night and the days and years leading up to this tragic event. The only person that really knows is David himself. Nobody knows how David felt then or even now about what he did. To speculate all these terrible things about him or his family I think is wrong. Since nobody really knows what went on in the Brom house behind closed doors, how can any of us expect to know what went through David’s mind or his dad’s mind for that matter. I think that so many facts have been lost over the years, that people read comments like the ones made here and tend to believe them. I think what happened to this family was absolutely terrible. I also think David killing his family was wrong too, but seriously has anyone thought about what was going on in David’s head at the time. I feel for the entire family all the way around. Somewhere along the way I think the whole family should have gotten some help, but this was in the 80’s when people chalked up all adolesent problems up to the wrong music and the wrong friends. Never thinking that maybe just maybe mental illness was infact a real thing.
Comment by SM — 2/22/2008 @ 3:44 pm
I personally know the family living in the home now. They were not the people who bought the house right after the murders but I think they were the second owners. They also paid a highly reduced price for this home and I think it was about 5-7 years after the murders. I’ve been going out there for over ten years and back then the house was pretty close to what it would have been like at the time of the murders. It was a heavily wooded (and beautiful)property with lots of privacy and you couldn’t really see another house from inside. There were cornfeilds in the backyard. Now there has been a lot of development in the area but the home and the property it sits on is still beautiful. Just walking on the property and in the house gives you an erie feeling. I can’t say that I think of the people that died in the house everytime I visit but when I do think of them I think they are at peace now. I feel bad for David, he needed help but did not get it. I don’t know that I believe the rumors that others were involved or that it had anything to do with satanic cults or music. I think it was just the result of a troubled boy who saw no other way out.
Comment by Private — 2/22/2008 @ 9:39 pm
Whether Stillwater or ST Peter, he got what he deserved. This man should never be released into the general ever again
Comment by VA172 — 3/2/2008 @ 12:58 pm
I know David very well. Never as a child, but the adult David. He’s a man of faith, and a man who to this day cannot believe what he did those many years ago at such a young age. He doesn’t speak openly about that time, but has confided in me some of his emotions and confusion from the day and subsequent days after what happened.
ANYONE that knows David as he is today would never doubt that he would be harmless to society.
There was another David, long ago that sent an innocent man to his death simply so King David could have the man’s wife Bathsheba. Yet when you read the book of Acts, that very same David was called a man after God’s own heart.
Sin is evil, and it’s easy for us to claim one ‘big’ sin is bigger than another ‘big’ sin….. but a repentant heart and 20 years of punishment for sins committed while still a child, do not warrant a lifetime of banishment from society.
David Brom isn’t a 16 year old boy, he’s a grown man with a very sensitive spirit….. and he is far from the monster that people claim he is.
Comment by R "Chip" T — 6/18/2008 @ 7:39 pm
For anyone who has read about or experienced this horrific event as town folk, you have no right to talk about the surviving family that still lives with this every day. For those of you that think you knew David or any of the family, you didn’t. You didn’t live with them, you didn’t know what they experienced. Those of you that sympathize with David are foolish, there were interventions and steps taken to heal this family, he just snapped. It angers me that in small town America people create these stories to justify what happened and blame those that were family. How dare you, take a look around at your own life and choices and think about the fact it takes one thing to make someone snap and commit a crime. The band Negitivland capitalized on these murders and made comments about the family that were just untrue. If I ever had the opportunity to meet Mark Hosler face to face I would personally tell him to go to hell where he belongs.
I think it is time for people to stop romantizing this and get a new flippin hobby.
Comment by Private — 6/18/2008 @ 8:27 pm
SM - - You said that “Nobody knows how David felt then or even now about what he did”.
This isn’t true.
I’ve spent a lot of time with David, just before he was transferred from St. Cloud to Stillwater a couple years ago. He worked in the library at St. Cloud, he even played fantasy football even though he didn’t know any of the players, (he chose players that had names similar to people he knew personally), and he still won in the league.
But on a more personal side, the person you read about as a 16 year old boy is NOT who David is today. He’s a very kind person with a gentle spirit. He sympathizes (sincerely) when you are hurting, he is there for you when needed, and it’s rare that you don’t see him in a good mood. Of course he is remorseful for the things he did as a mid-teen, (although in his mental state at the time, at that young age and caught up in so many things….. he doesn’t really understand how he could have done what he did). But the truth is that it was 20 years ago, and he was a child. Now he’s in his mid-30’s and doesn’t deserve to spend his entire life banned from normal society because of childhood behaviors, no matter how bad they were.
To everyone that speaks horridly of David, you wouldn’t say these things if you knew him personally. You can talk about how it’s not fair to his family either because they are dead, but the child David Brom is gone also….. the child that was extremely confused, torn, and hurting (to the point of suicide attempts)…. that child is gone, and now is an adult, who is living a life of banishment and imprisonment for childhood crimes. David’s imprisonment for 20 years already, not to mention his life, is a crime in itself.
Comment by R "Chip" T — 6/24/2008 @ 7:55 pm
I just can’t believe some of the mamby pamby bleeding heart nonsense I’m reading here. I’ve been living in Rochester for the past 25 years. I remember the Brom case well. While I didn’t know the family at all, I can tell you this. There is “NO”, absolutely “NO EXCUSE” for chopping your entire family into little peices in the middle of the night. Trying to rationalize what this lunatic did is completely assinine. I don’t care what kind of “mental” issues he had, he deserves much worse than what he got. The only difference between David Brom and John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy or Jeff Dahmer is the fact that he “MURDERED HIS OWN FAMILY!!!!” And I don’t think anybody really cares what kind of “issues” they all had when they committed their brutal crimes. This guy can’t be punished enough in my opinion.
Comment by Steve — 7/18/2008 @ 1:35 am
i did not know david, but i was friends with his older brother joe, as much as anyone could be i guess. He was a bit older then me and at the time i looked up to him for his attitude and view towards life. we used to listen to husker du together and whatnot, and he chastised me for listening to u2 who he could not stand. i hope he has found peace in all of this. rochester mn, and lourdes high school is a wierd place, and did kind of breed a kind of discontent for those that were not among the norm.
Comment by lm — 7/23/2008 @ 4:24 am
I appreciate that this story has been published here (both parts).
I also am very appreciative of the fact that we can state truths, and not just rhetoric as so many do.
Many people think they would go crazy, when trying to imagine a week inside of a prison cell. How about at the age of 16, then spending the next 20 years and possibly the rest of your life there.
Like anyone, what David did is appalling for me to think about. But I also know that he is not that 16 year old child today, and he would not be capable of hurting anyone in society, if he were given a chance. I won’t say ’second chance’, because David never had a ‘first chance’ at life….. he was merely a 16 year old, torn and suicidal boy (ever known any of them?) What David did could happen anywhere at any time….. we’ve learned from David, and I wish that society would do what is right and give him his freedom.
I’m sure some will say, “Where is the freedom of his parents and younger siblings?”. I can’t answer for that…. only for the kindhearted person, genuinely…. that David Brom is today.
If you somehow get a chance to read this Dave…. or someone sends it to you, hope you know you’re thought of often. Sorry for no Tour de France pics this year….. wasn’t around when they passed nearby. Miss ya much.
R “Chip” T
Comment by R "Chip" T — 8/5/2008 @ 9:04 pm
R “Chip” T: I love the comment about the suicide attempts. I’m assuming from the plural word “attempts” that he tried suicide more than once? Are we all supposed to feel sorry for poor David because he couldn’t kill HIMSELF but he was successful (MORE than successful actually) in killing FOUR members of his family? He could overkill four members of his family—-but he couldn’t kill himself????? Hmmmmmmmmm. You are so right. A guy like this, as you stated, “…would not be capable of hurting anyone in society.” GIVE ME A BREAK!
Comment by Whatever — 9/4/2008 @ 12:33 am
I remember when this story broke on the 10:00 pm news. I was working 3rd shift at the time and was just getting ready to go into work when this came on the TV. My wife and I had just move into our house less then two weeks prior to this incident which was about 2 miles away. I don’t recall if it was known at the time that a axe was used to commit the murders but I do recall that the murderer was still on the loose. Needless to say I was a little unnerved at the time about leaving my wife alone and going into work that night.
Comment by Michael Dean — 11/9/2008 @ 4:14 am
If you know David or lived in the Rochester area during the time of the murders; please contact
unpaidinternproductions@gmail.com
We are currently working on a project and would like to interview people who either know David or lived in the community where the crimes took place.
Comment by Unpaid Intern — 4/4/2009 @ 1:50 am
David KILLED his FAMILY!!!! I know he was 16 when he did it. I remember when I was 16. I was thinking of what sports I was playing, my license, and dating girls. Not CHOPPING up my family! I knew at the age of 16 what was wrong and what was right. So did David. I don’t care that he feels bad now. I would feel bad too if I had to spend the rest of my life in prison for what I have done. For the people that think he is such a great person now, SCREW YOU!! He is an AXE MURDER!! I lived in Byron, which is just west of Rochester, when this happened. This incident shocked the crap out of not just Rochester, but the whole state of Minnesota. I used to work for a moving company a few years ago and I moved a family out of their house that lived right across the street from the Brom house. I didn’t realize at the time where the Brom house was located, but when the lady told us what house was across the street, I got the biggest goosebumps I have ever had in my entire life!! Some people just deserve to fry for what they have done and DAVID BROM is one of them. I have read a lot of these entries that say he is changed and has become a man. Well, he should have never been given a chance to change. He MASSACRED is family when he knew it was wrong. Ever since this event happened, I wish Minnesota had the death penalty. David, if anyone deserves it, IT IS YOU!
Comment by Give Me A Break — 2/7/2010 @ 5:17 am
Actually I know David personally. I was friends with him before the murders and I visited him once a month in St. Cloud prison until he was moved to Still water almost 10 years ago. David now contacts me every so often by phone because he will be up up\or paroll soon and does not want me involved.The Brom children were so horribly abused that anyone would have snapped under these conditions. I believe it when David said that at the time he thought that he was doing Diane and Ricky. his sibs a service by removing them from the hand of Bernie. David was even begging neighbors for help and all was ignored until this horrific thing happened. Yes, it is unthinkable what David did. I sit right next to David, Hug him and have held his hand many times when I visited him and I do not fear him in the least. He is a gentle soul with a beautiful heart and he sends my 4 children birthday and xmas cards every year. I am a small female and he is welcome to my home for dinner any time should he get paroll. I sincerlry love David and I feel that Rochesters community let down a little boy begging for help and now he is looked at as an animal. David misses his family every day. He begs Diane for forgiveness daily as he remembers the expression on her face before she died. This haunts David daily as I know Diane has already forgiven him.David does have a great sense of humor. Sometimes when I ask him a question his reply is…dont axe me! I love you Dave..Lyn
Comment by Anonymous — 2/20/2010 @ 11:52 pm
David I didn’t know you or your family. I remember the story when it came out in the paper and on the news.
I have often thought of you and wondered how you are doing. Would like to have contact with you my mail, but haven’t a clue how to go about it.
I would like to see you released on paroll and given your life back. I have no doubt that now being an adult and probably given treatment, you would fit back in to society. You were 16 at a time when kids dressed in weird clothing and listenend to crappy music. People due mature. I’m the age of your mother had she lived.
Comment by Just me — 4/21/2010 @ 11:09 am
To poster #35 (Lyn)…let me get this straight. You say that David, with his gentle soul and beautiful heart, has a great sense of humor because he answers questions with “don’t axe me”? Gosh, there’s nothing funnier than executing your family and then cracking “axe” jokes over 20 years later. Seems like a terrific guy. No wonder you think it’s great that he sends your kids birthday and xmas cards every year. Personally, I’d be fine NOT hanging out with a mass-murderer or having him send greetings to my kids, but I guess that’s just me (and 99.99% of the population). Perhaps YOU need some professional help if you think this is acceptable behavior.
Comment by R U Kidding Me? — 5/8/2010 @ 9:58 am