Rehoboth Man Gets Life Sentence for Father’s Murder

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Rehoboth man convicted for the 2021 murder of his father has been sentenced to life in prison.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that Joseph "JD" Housley II, 25, of Rehoboth was sentenced today to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Housley was convicted of first-degree murder on October 6, 2025.

"I am pleased that the judge imposed a life sentence with the maximum term of 30 years for parole eligibility. The defendant planned the murder of his father with the assistance of his accomplice and tried to con his way out of responsibility in his testimony before the jury. Fortunately, they saw through it. This was a terrible tragedy for all the family members impacted by the victim’s murder," D.A. Quinn said.

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On July 6, 2021, at about 9:53 p.m., Seekonk Police responded to reports of gunshots at an apartment at 101 Forsythe Circle in Seekonk, where Joseph Housley, 66, was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Son and Friend Indicted Following 15-Month Probe

After a 15-month investigation, the younger Housley, then 21 years old, was indicted on a charge of murder and carrying an illegal firearm, along with his close friend and co-defendant Christopher Heron, also 21. Heron was found guilty of second-degree murder in June of this year and then sentenced to life in prison in September. He is eligible for parole after 18 years.

The Victims in the New Bedford Highway Murders

The New Bedford highway murders took place in 1988, with the bodies discovered into 1989. The killer is confirmed to have killed nine women and suspected of murdering at least two more. Although there were at least three different men considered as suspects by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the murders remain unsolved and the families of the victims are still searching for closure. The cases are all featured on the unsolved cases page of the Bristol County District Attorney's Office website.

Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg