Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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A Middleborough man was found guilty of murder on Thursday, stemming from a 2020 incident where he killed both of his parents, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz announced.

Ryan True, 25, of Middleborough, was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder Thursday, following a weeklong trial in Brockton Superior Court. He was sentenced to serve two life sentences in prison on Friday, without the possibility of parole.

The incident occurred on the morning of Dec. 10, 2020, when Middleborough police responded to a home on 3 Highland St., where the DA said Ryan True lived with his parents, for a well-being check.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the bodies of Renee True, 55, and David True, 52.

Police said both victims suffered multiple stab wounds and were left in the home, covered in blankets.

Following officers' initial response to the crime scene, police said Ryan True returned to the home and turned himself in without incident.

Prosecutors said Ryan True, who has autism, told police he stabbed his father and mother with a pocket knife after an altercation the night before.

Ryan True's half-brother, Douglas Hughes III, said Ryan True told him "he did what he had to do."

A Middleborough Public Schools bus was parked in the driveway when officers arrived at the scene. A neighbor told WCVB that one of the residents is a driver.

The Middleborough School District said Renee True was a member of the Middleborough Public Schools' Transportation Department since 2007 and was a mini-bus driver responsible for the transportation of special education students.

"This sudden loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions with the families and staff members who worked with Renee on a daily basis," the school district said.

"Renee was a hard-working and dedicated employee. It was clearly evident that she cared about every child she transported every day," Brian E. Lynch, the superintendent of schools for Middleborough, said. She will be greatly missed by our transportation department and our entire school community."

Neighbors said they were shocked by the incident.

"They walk up and down the street. Surprisingly enough, during quarantine, all the neighbors got to know each other. So, we’d all walk our dogs," neighbor Sarah DaRosa said. "My dogs would go over there. They are just a quiet, nice couple. He brought my dogs back a few times. They are just very nice, quiet couple. This is kind of shocking, to be honest."

Ryan True pleaded not guilty to the charges in 2020 and was held without bail. He was then sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a mental health evaluation.

These records were obtained from the Middleborough Police Department through the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

Please note that 50:45-02:06:11 were redacted by the Middleborough Police Department with a gray screen, not by myself. In an effort to preserve the complete file provided to me, I am leaving it intact.

"In regards to your request for the Booking Stool video, please be advised that the Middleborough Police Department removed approximately 116 minutes in the middle of the booking video due to another arrest which was being processed during this time. At no time was Ryan True in the booking area during the timeframe as he had been moved to the interview room. The individual that was under arrest and being booked was not involved in the Ryan True case and was a separate incident all together. This information has been redacted for the exemptions and reasons listed below:
Exemption C: Personnel or Medical Files or Information
Exemption A: CORI Information Exempt by Statute"