Man Sentenced for Manslaughter of Revere Woman

News Summary

Aaron Parsons, a 47-year-old man from Revere, has been sentenced to up to 16 years in prison following his guilty plea for the manslaughter of 29-year-old Sarah Dorany. The incident took place at the Verb Hotel in Boston, where Dorany was found dead in March 2020. The court heard emotional testimony from Dorany’s family, highlighting the tragedy of her loss and the ongoing concerns regarding violence against women connected to online interactions.

Boston, Massachusetts – Aaron Parsons, a 47-year-old man originally from Revere, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 14 to 16 years in state prison for the manslaughter of 29-year-old Sarah Dorany. The sentencing took place at Suffolk Superior Court on May 30, 2023, after Parsons pleaded guilty to charges connected to Dorany’s death, including paying for sexual conduct.

The tragic incident occurred in March 2020 at the Verb Hotel located on Boylston Street in Boston, where Dorany was found dead in a hotel room. Hotel staff discovered her unresponsive on the floor with a pillow covering her face, which was shaped to fit her contour and stained with dark smudges resembling makeup. The details surrounding her death were grim, with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later ruling the cause of death as mechanical asphyxiation.

On March 11, 2020, Parsons and Dorany met online and arranged to meet in person at the Eastern Standard restaurant in Kenmore Square before booking a hotel room for two nights. Surveillance footage captured them entering the hotel lobby together at approximately 8:20 PM on the evening of March 11. Dorany is believed to have been killed sometime later that night.

After checking in, Parsons was recorded separating from Dorany, with video evidence showing him at the Hynes Convention Center MBTA station at 11:23 PM that night. He returned to his Revere apartment shortly after midnight, but left again only to return three hours later wearing different clothing. Surveillance cameras captured Parsons discarding his phone in the Seaport area near Drydock Avenue the following morning. When questioned, he claimed to have no recollection of events from March 11 to March 15, stating that he awakened under a bridge in Cambridge.

During the sentencing hearing, a number of Dorany’s family and friends attended via Zoom from Germany, providing emotional statements about her life and the impact of her loss. Dorany’s mother expressed that the loss is a profound one not only for their family but for the world as well. Her younger sister passionately described Dorany as her “hero” and highlighted her as a bright star and a truly brave individual.

District Attorney Kevin Hayden acknowledged the powerful statements made by Dorany’s family during the court proceedings, recognizing that their words carried significant emotional weight in the sentencing process.

The case echoes the ongoing concerns about violence against women and the implications arising from interactions initially made through online platforms. Parsons’ sentencing follows a relatively straightforward legal process, where his guilty plea to manslaughter, alongside the charge of paying for sexual conduct, provided the basis for the lengthy prison term.

As Parsons begins his prison sentence, Dorany’s family must now navigate the difficult path of grief and loss, remembering a daughter and sister who touched many lives during her short time on earth.

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Additional Resources

• Boston Herald: Ex-Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Woman’s Death in Boston Hotel
• NBC Boston: Boston Cold Case Hotel Killing Guilty Plea
• Hoodline: Maine Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Manslaughter in Boston Hotel Death
• Google Search: Boston hotel death
• ABC3340: Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to 1980 Boston Hotel Murder
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Boston hotel crime