John Odgren Denied Appeal In Lincoln-Sudbury HS Stabbing

SUDBURY, MA — John Odgren, who was convicted of murdering a Lincoln-Sudbury classmate in 2007, will not get a new trial, an appeals court decided Wednesday. Odgren is serving a life sentence for stabbing 15-year-old James Alenson to death when Odgren was 16.

Odgren's legal team had argued that he should get a new trial because the jury was given improper instructions and was allowed to hear jailhouse recordings that should have been excluded from the evidence. The appeals court denied that request — along with another request to reduce Odgren's sentence.

In January 2007, Odgren brought a kitchen knife to school and used it stab Alenson, whom he did not know, when he attacked him in the high school bathroom. According to court documents, Odgren admitted to the stabbing and asked another student in the bathroom who witnessed the murder to get help.

When help arrived, Odgren said, "Don't let him die. It was all me. I did this. I just went crazy," documents show. He also asked several times whether Alenson would be okay.

During Odgren's trial, his lawyer argued that he was not criminally responsible for the murder because he suffers from mental illness. Three specialists in child behavior testified that Odgren lost touch with reality and was in a state of paranoia when he stabbed Alenson.

Odgren's father testified that his son started treatment for a major depressive disorder beginning in the third grade and was later diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and other mental disorders. A state-certified psychiatrist argued for the prosecution that Odgren knew what he was doing and was aware of the consequences when he attacked Alenson, citing statements he made to teachers after the murder.

Jurors listened to recordings of telephone calls Odgren made while awaiting trial where he laughed and talked about his fascination with weapons and with violence. The appeal argued that the tapes should not have been allowed into evidence.

An autopsy showed Alenson suffered stab wounds in the liver and the heart. He was pronounced dead in the hospital. All 1,600 students at Lincoln-Sudbury High School were sent home that day.

Odgren will serve out the rest of his life sentence.