Family of murdered CT teen asks judge to deny prison reduction for killer

More than 30 years ago, José Crespo was sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Melanie Rieger.

At the time, Rieger's parents were promised that their days in court with his killer were over. But Sam and Wanda Rieger, now 78 and 81, were forced back into a crowded Waterbury courtroom Wednesday to watch a slideshow of their 19-year-old's life interrupted by Crespo.

Crespo — whom the Riegers said they once welcomed into their home, took vacations and sought counseling — appeared via video call from a New Hampshire correctional institute as he appealed to Judge Joseph B. Schwartz for a reduction of his sentence, which he served for 30 and a half years.

Melanie's brother, Randy Rieger, said Wednesday that if the court even considered reducing Crespo's sentence, “the only thread of justice we have from this brutal murder would be cut.”

“It seems unacceptable that you would consider putting a family through a second period of mourning like this,” he said.

Randy Rieger was accompanied by his parents and numerous friends, family members, survivors and advocates who pleaded with the judge to keep Crespo behind bars.

Changing the sentence, said Sam Rieger, “would amount to denying justice to our beautiful daughter Mélanie.”

“The fact that we are being re-traumatized by the criminal justice system after 30 years proves that we need to support victims of violent crime instead of mistreating them again and again,” he said.

CT parents are forced to relive their worst nightmare. Their daughter's killer asks for a modification of his sentence.

Unbearable loss

On May 24, 1994, Same and Wanda Rieger were vacationing in Aruba when they received a message that was every parent's worst nightmare.

Their 19-year-old daughter, Melanie, lived in Naugatuck and was in the process of ending an unhealthy and abusive relationship with Crespo, who was several years older than her.

She told friends and family she was afraid of her ex-boyfriend, who allegedly injured the family dog ​​and threatened to burn down the family home. His intuition was right.

While her parents were abroad, Crespo broke in and strangled Mélanie. He put her body in his brother's hockey bag, wrapped in trash bags. He then took the items he had stolen from the family, such as Melanie's jewelry and a video camera, to a local pawn shop and used the proceeds to rent a storage locker in Waterbury, where he left the Melanie's body.

Waterbury State's Attorney Maureen Platt asked the court to consider the trauma the Riegers suffered in losing their only daughter, coping with the brutal way she was killed and then learning that his body had been left to decompose in a storage unit.

“Can you imagine the horror that was compounded when they realized their beloved daughter, their 19-year-old daughter, was wrapped like trash in trash bags,” Platt asked.

One of Melanie's best friends tried to make the judge understand how long she had probably suffered under Crespo's hands and weight. She counted to five out loud in court, saying Crespo probably had nearly 300 seconds to reconsider his actions.

She and other friends said they struggle with endless guilt as they still try to grapple with what Melanie endured when she was murdered. They talked about what they missed about her: her sparkling blue eyes and her contagious laugh.

The Riegers said the world had been robbed of Melanie's potential, her loving, caring spirit and her lifelong desire to help others, which she was only just beginning to explore.

Sam Rieger said that although the day of Melanie's murder was the worst day of their lives, the last few weeks have been comparable.

“May 24, 1994, was the day our world stopped and will never be the same,” he said, referring to Crespo only by his inmate number.

Relive the trauma

After a three-judge panel found Crespo guilty, the Riegers thought at least the trauma of seeing him in court had ended.

But on Feb. 6, 2024, the Riegers received a letter stating that Crespo had requested a sentence modification hearing.

“We were told that we would no longer hear from the judiciary. What happened to that promise? Sam Rieger asked the judge. “The false sense of security is now destroyed. »

The Riegers said even the possibility of early release brought back the grief, fear and sleepless nights they endured decades ago. Knowing that Wednesday's hearing was approaching, they said, retraumatized them beyond description.

Before Melanie's mother, Wanda Rieger, spoke Wednesday, Schwartz told her to take as much time as she needed.

“You shouldn't be here today.” You shouldn’t have to go through all of this again,” the judge said.

Wanda Rieger began by pointing out that her daughter was born on Father's Day, June 16, 1994. This year, June 16 will once again mark Father's Day and her birthday.

“She would have been 50,” Wanda Rieger said. “Instead, she will always be 19.”

Rather than celebrating, they spend these holidays at the cemetery. Every milestone, every birthday is still painful now. But this year, she says, the situation has been worse.

Wanda Rieger has described the anguish she felt after her daughter's death. She talked about weeks spent in bed, remembering how Melanie's dog would sit outside her bedroom door waiting for her to come out. She said it took her and her husband 15 years to open that bedroom door and go through their daughter's things.

Wanda Rieger told the judge that when Crespo “decided to take the life of our beautiful daughter,” he didn't just kill Melanie.

“A part of us died the day Mélanie was murdered,” she said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t wake up or go to sleep thinking about her.”

While Crespo remained on the video call, Wanda Rieger said her decision to request a modification showed a lack of remorse.

“If he was truly sorry, he would not put us through this again and would serve the sentence he was given,” she said.

“Please keep him in prison to serve the original sentence,” Wanda Rieger begged the judge.

Schwartz also heard from Crespo on Wednesday.

“I had a good life,” he said. “I stand here before you today, a true (remorseful) and repentant man, looking for a second chance,” he said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think of Melanie Rieger.”

Crespo also spoke directly to the Riegers, apologizing for what he did to their daughter.

“I have waited 30 and a half years to be able to express how truly sorry I am for the pain I have caused you,” he said. “What concerns me and has concerned me since that day is the deepest remorse.”

Crespo said he knew nothing he could say would be enough to ease Rieger's pain or shame.

“I'm going to spend the rest of my life doing whatever it takes to honor Melanie,” he said, calling her a wonderful and special person.

“I have caused you a lifetime of pain and I am truly sorry,” he added.

During his 30-and-a-half years in prison, Crespo said he underwent numerous therapies, took several classes, worked in the kitchen and learned many things about his own mental health. He is currently enrolled in college and seeking a degree in business management.

“Since my conviction, I have worked very hard to try to understand how this happened and to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said. “I put 100% effort into learning how to evolve for the better.”

Crespo said he has created a strong support network that he plans to lean on if he is released early. His brother and niece also spoke on his behalf, promising to support him.

“Please know that regardless of the outcome of this hearing, I am committed to change,” he said.

Crespo said May 24, 1994, was also the worst day of his life.

“I know that deep in my heart, I will never let myself return to the same state of mind that I had in 1994,” he said.

One of Melanie's teachers spoke toward the end of Wednesday's hearing, saying the possibility of a sentence modification was “a continuation of this nightmare” for everyone who loved Melanie.

“Don’t let Melanie’s family be victimized again, your honor,” she told the judge.

Schwartz said given the emotions heard in court Wednesday, he owes it to the families of both parties to make his decision quickly. He said he has 120 days to make a decision on a sentencing modification, but plans to work through the weekend and make his decision much sooner.

“I'm going to work as quickly as possible so we can at least put this chapter behind both parties,” Schwartz said.