Plymouth County resident who strangled girlfriend to death after abortion argument granted parole with conditions

After being found guilty of killing his partner, a Plymouth County resident was given parole with restrictions.

On October 1, 1989, in Hull, 20-year-old Christine Alexander (formerly Paul Stockwell) killed 18-year-old Mechelle Foster by strangulation, according to the Board.

Alexander found out that Foster was six weeks pregnant with their kid before to the murder. Because she (Alexander) did not want the responsibility of a child and was worried about the effect a kid would have on her life, Alexander wanted Foster to have an abortion. Among other things, Alexander and Foster debated on the abortion. Alexander took Foster to Hull on the day of the murder, and they strolled along the shore. After returning to Alexander’s vehicle, the couple engaged in sexual activity. Alexander strangled Foster when he attempted to get out of the automobile while he was sat inside. Even after Foster stopped resisting and kicking, Alexander kept choking her until he realized she was dead. Alexander took a car to a dead-end street in Brockton and dumped Foster’s body in a trash-filled, brush-covered area. Alexander swept the grass over Foster’s body and walked away. It took nine days to recover the victim’s body.

The medical examiner determined that manual strangulation was the cause of Foster’s death. Foster’s body had scrapes, bruises, and scratches that suggested a battle had taken place before she passed away. Although Alexander claimed to have put Foster in a sleeper hold, she told authorities that she choked her.

On October 18, 1991, Alexander was found guilty of first-degree murder in Plymouth Superior Court based on the assumption of purposeful premeditation. Alexander was given the obligatory life sentence without the chance of release.

Alexander was granted parole after the Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Commonwealth v. Mattis, 493 Mass. 216 (2024) that it is unconstitutional to sentence emerging adults (those who were 18 to 20 years old at the time of the offense) to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Alexander was resentenced to life in prison with the prospect of release after 15 years due to the SJC’s ruling on her conviction for first-degree murder.

For the last 35 years, Alexander has been behind bars. According to the Board, Alexander participated in a variety of noteworthy programming to address her need areas while she was incarcerated, such as Restorative Justice, Family Violence, and Violence Reduction. For five years, she also took part in the NEADS program. Alexander’s age at the time of the violation and her potential for reform were taken into account by the Board. Along with the report and evidence of Christa Maxant, LMHC, regarding Alexander’s history of gender dysphoria, the Board also took into account her particular situation and elevated risk of harm while incarcerated. In order to meet her continuing needs, Alexander provided a sound re-entry plan. Plymouth Assistant District Attorney Karen Palumbo’s opposition testimony was taken into consideration by the Board. The Board also considered the opposition testimony of the victim s sister, as well as the wife of the victim s nephew.

The conditions of Alexander s probation include: Long Term Residential Program Bethany House or other suitable program; Report to assigned MA Parole Office on day of release; Give up work for the program; Electronic monitoring for duration of program; Supervise for drugs with testing in accordance with Agency policy; Supervise for liquor abstinence with testing in accordance with Agency policy; No contact with victim(s) family; Must have mental health counseling for adjustment.

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